Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-12-28
FAILURE OF tn. Cataio.

For a number OF years past. says a
western farming paper. u good many
persons Interested In finding u strain OF
cattle well adapted To the western
ranges have entertained the belief that
such n result could bc supplied 10y the
use OF buffalo In cross-brccding. The
argument In favor OF this course rest
cd chiefly ON the fact that the buffalo
was more economical feeder than the
steer, inasinuch rs IL did not tramp
down and destroy the grass II did not
eat. as cattle are likely to do. and that
consequently grass would he plenty no
matter how heavily the ranges might
be stocked. The buffalo being intligen-
ous to the range country Is considered
by reason of environment better able
TO rustic under range conditions and
take care OF itself ut all seasons of the
year. Numerous attempts to reduce
the idea OF grade buffalo-crowing to
practice show that the animal thus pro-
duccd Is still u buffalo. so far as the
flavor and texture Of the meat Is CON
cerned-thcsc being strong and coarse.
The hides lack value. too, because that
covering the forcuuartcrs is rough and
shaggy. while that on the hindQuarters
is smooth like the steers. and the va
Ration in the texture makes 1t less
valuable than n beef hide. The theory
also fails to take into account the fact
that range conditions are gradually
changing. I he open range is disappear.
Ing and an approximation to farm
methods. including winter fecdinr,, Is
slowly but inevitably ginning ground.
The range country. therefore. is grow
Ing away from the need for the only
advantages the buffalo possessed, and
market demand has already grown
away from the kind of meat the grade
buffalo furnishes. The situation only
affords another illustration of the fact
that In the breeding Of all domestic an
imals the tendency must be inward.
In the direction of conformity with
mans needs. From the animals own
standpoint the buffalo Is doubtless n
very superior animal as compared with
even the best bred cattle. 1t can take
care of itself better and live poorer.
Withstand the scveritics of winter bet
ter, light lis battles better and live
longer. But from the standpoint of
market demand it is compnrutiyolv
worthless, and the tendency of nil
breeding worthy of the name is and
must be In the direction of more nor.
feet harmony with the tastes and de.
sircs of market conditions. The losses
that this better breeding innicts upon
the buffalo from the animals own
standpoint Is compensated by better
care on the part of the owner. If the
Kind of animal the market wants must
of necessity lose II part of its ability
to rustic for Il living and to withstand
the seventies of winter in becominr
that kind of an animal. then the owner
must consent TO feed more, to provide
winter protection and generally by bet
ter care TO make up for the animals
decreased power to take care of itself.
On the range the cattlcmcn who orn
succeeding best are those who arn
breeding best The use of the buffalo
on the other hand. like the use of thr
hazel splitter in the corn belt in breed.
ing operations. Is Il step backward ana
very long step. Possibly gain in
vigor and constitution might result
from it. but 1t would be Mt n sacrifice
OF qualities that are scsscntial to meet
ing market demands. The cases nrr
precisely alike in principle, and neither
me Duifnlo nor the razor back have nnv
place In the making of the mcnts that
commerce wants. although in the coso
OF the hog, handled in II particular
way, the hazel splitter makes very s,-
perior meat. The figure 1t cuts i'm com.
merce, however, is iufinitcsimal.