Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-01
RANGES WELL CLEANED UP.
Stocs5men Have Shipped About Everything
That Was Fit for the Market.

HAT Was F!f Tor the Market.
The ranges of the west never had
such q cleaning up before as they did
this year. The movement has been the
greatest on record and has included all
kinds of cattle, says the Record Stock
lures Of the run has been the unusually
large movement of COWS. While this
movement was expected III part, it has
been even larger than predicted, and
the bulk Of these cattle have gone to
feed lots or to slaughter.
I For the past three years there has
been a gradual falling off in the de.
mand for she stock and the past season
has been the worst in the demand for
COWS of any for some years. This has
given rise to the popular impression
that there is an over-supp1y of she stock
in the country. We doubt this very
much. OF course reliable statistics
are hard to obtain, but such figures as
can be had indicated a production of
she stock rather greater than Of steers
and market statistics show the slaugh-
ter Of cattle has been about equally
divided between steers and COWS, with
the percentage in favor Of COWS.
With many o the big herds of Texas
spaying their heifers an1 the northern
herds shipping COWS to market to
slaughter, thequestion naturally arises,
| is it not possible that we may be going
too far in the wholesale destruction of
breeding stock? There has been a
reason for the light demand for breed
ing cows during the past two years.
Many northern range men have been
going out of the cow business, turning
their herds into steers exclusively.
! The unsettled condition of the range
and the necessity of being in shape to
get out of the business quick, is the
principal cause of this. The same UNI
settled conditions have beenresponsible
for the light demand and hence COWS
have been very poor property except for
| beef. heavy movement of settlers to
the west is indicated for the next few
years and they will all want COWS.
We are therefore inclined to the opinion
that there Will be a decided change in
the situation by next spring.
Where the drouth has been bad
everything has been shipped out, even
COWS and calves. Cattlemen in round
ing up have driven in erything they
could find, their neighbers' cattle as
we'll as their own, and brand inspect
orS have been kept buster than ever
before sorting out the estrays. Next
spring the sections thus cleaned up
Will all want a fresh supply of cattle
If the indications are favorable for
grass, and they are very favorable
just now. This demand will be mostly
for breeding stock and with good
spring, there is reason to expect an
active market on stock cattle.
Those who have been expecting a bic.
slump in fed cattle on the markets,
may also be disappointed, for reports
up to date indicate that outside of Iowa
and Missouri. cattle going on full feed
are not as numerous as expected.
There will be plenty Of short fed cattle
coming right along. but this will not
help much. Kansas and Nebraska
| farmers seem to think corn will be no
lower and are holding on to it like
grim death and even the cheap, thin
cattle have thus far been little tempta-
ton to them. There are plenty of
attic being roughed through the win
te.. but not as many of them are eating
corn as was hoped for earlier in the
season.
"A good line of wines, liquors and
| cigars to be had of Butler & Holt