The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-15
PREFERS SHORT-HORNS
c. A. Saunders of Manila Writes
Regarding Choice Of Breeds.
PARTIAL TO THE SHORT HORNS
The Following Article Is Taken From
The Manila Times. Mr. Saunders Is
Well Known To Many Cattle Men.

he prefers the Pooled Angus cattle, and
tells it so straight and right TO the point,
feel the "spirit" moves me to attempt to
tell why prefer Shorthorn cattle to all
other breeds. Not wishing to say any thing
detrimental to any other breed or any
mans choice, just wish to tell, as best
can my reasons for my choice of beef cat
tie. l have enjoyed Mr. Miller,s article
thoroughly, He has given many substan-
tial and historical facts, and l doubt not
has owned more Shorthorns than the wri-
ter ever did or ever will.
l will not attempt to improve on Mr..
Miller's article, as 1 could no! if | would
but will just give short sketch of my own
experience in the pure bred cattle business.
The first registered COW bought was
Hereford was needing family mich
Cow and bought her at a sale as the auc-
tioneer and owner said she was an excel
lent family COW. After she was knocked
off to me went into the barn to view my
bargain, and felt OF her udder, when she
quickly landed me at the other side of the
barn. Well. had all the family COW I
wanted of that kind, SO hunted up the
man who.had bid against me and let him
have the COW for S. less than paid for
ICl, dul llOuSAl ludl III vi ChpeIlGuCt
cheap. That was my first and last Here
ford. 1 suppose I was green and didn't
know good thing, but had all of that
breed ever wanted; yet know they are
not all like that one. have seen some
grand specimens of the breed, but do not
feel competent to describe them. aag q
Some time after bought number of
Shorthorn c-ws, suppose l always had
aleaning that way, for l always admired
the reds, whites and roans, and was we'll
with them. Some months later l
had chance to buy an entire herd of 80
head of registered Angus cattle, which
got at very reasonable price. They were
good individuals, but very wild. soon
found they had no use for man on foot
If one appeared 1t took another on horse
back to get him out of the way or overtake
the COW. The winter being mild, we oft
en- smelled rubber and would see one of
the boys coming at breakneck speed,
with Black Beauty in hot persuit, each
trying to reach the fence first; SO l decided
would have to sacrifice my herd of beau
ties. got acquainted with quite num-
Der of Angus cattlemen, and grand and
noble lot of men they are, too One ia
nous Iowa breeder Of 'Black Beauties"
came to look at bunch of the calves, 1
was telling him how they were very will
and feared could never tame them but
he said: Nov, look here, no matter what
any one tells you about the Angus cattle
being wild, don't you believe it, even if
you never get these calves tanned, Re
member the breed is not wild" told
him all right, even when couldn't under.
stand that doctrine. At last found few
buyers in Nebraska, where they have few
fences and large ranges; SO l sold them
the entire herd and felt should return
thanks that / still owned some s'gentle
Shoi thorns l have handled quite num-
Der and am more pleased with 1.-THE breed
each season. | find them very gentle,
good mixers and the best of beef produc-
ers. The Shorthorns may not produce as
many market toppers as the Angus do, but
we certainly do produce the kind of beef
that brings top prices every day in the
week and every week in the year, We do
not claim the smoothness or excessive fat
of some other beef breeds, nor do we con-
tribute such large per cent to the manu-
facture Of oleomargarine. But the Short
horn breeders have always done and al
ways will claim the breed contributes
largely to the dairy interests of the Uni.
ted States or any other country where the
Shorthorn grows.
In the same issue that contained Mr.
Millers article was one from Prof Curtis
with few statistics on the dairy ques-
ton. Prof. Curtis says the dairy product
of the United States for one year alone is
3I,oco, 900, 900 pounds of skim milk and
5000, 900, 900 of butter and cheese.
L. H.
portance d that branch of cattle industry?
And wonder how large percent of the
entire income per year does the Angus
breed contribute. If one should judge by
their show herds, we would
suppose it was a very small per cent, and
the breed that produces large per cent
of the dairy product Of our country does
not need the "market toppers" to win
them place on the worlds records as
both beer and butter makers. / would
! Ike to ask why it is that the Angus cattle
breeders as a rule. when out with their
show herds have large number of red
nurse cows. but why not have them of the
same breed (if they are mlkers)? Twill
agree with Mr.. Miller that the prime steer
of three years is thing of the past, or
should be, We can have them prime,
from I 800 to 1000 pounds, at
from 10 to 20 months old, and why feed a
steer and risk him six months or a year
for few hundred pounds, when young
er one can take his place and make
more rapid gain2 The sooner the judges
at our big shows judge according to age,
as well as for individual excellence, the
better for all breed of beef cattle Was
not Shamrock, the Angus champion, three
years and few months old when he won
the championship and weighed but /, Soc
pounds. | honestly believe Shorthorn
Of that age under such conditions, would
have weighed 2.4oopounds But we don't
keep them that long-they get too big, l
would like to ask why we put so much in
terest in prizes and championships? l
know it is great thing 10 say: my kind
diff not my cattle won some prizes. and
perhaps My particular breed of cattle
produced the champion beef at one CT our
great national or international live stock
1t is a great honor to the
breed that wins and breeders of winning
cattle can be justly proud of the animals
hat add SO many laurels to their crown.
But how small an item all prizes combined
or whole year are compared to the en-
ire beef prediction of,our country for one
,ear. The breed that produces the
urine ScntSn mr. rathar tonc tha Chr;.t