Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-07
LIVE
STOCK NOTES
Pierre Wibaux Says Open Range Can
No Longer be Depended Upon for
Fat Cattle.
SHORTAGE CERTAIN BY SPRING
Brokers Urge Montana %Sheepmen to
Send in Their Stock Before the
Great Rush Commences.

Great Rush Commences.
Many Montana cattlemen. while not
in the cattle feeding business. will
be interested in a review of the stu.
alton made by J. II. Hackett. of West
Roadhouse. ILL.,. a well known corn
grower and cattle feeder.
There has been very little money
made in feeding cattle for the last two
years" said he. How II Is to be the
coming season is the question which
confronts the farmer, or will, within
the next two or three months. There
is a disposition on the part of the
small feeder to quit the business, but
the large breeders who, perhaps,
study the situation more thoroughly,
and from a wider standpoint or field
of observation, are thinking that it is
going to be a good year to feed. They
argue that the small feeder going out
of business gives them a much better
chance. There is no question but that
the small feeder has overstocked the
market this year. His name is legion.
THE consequence has been too
many fat cattle sent to market. They
are still going and will continue to
do so for another month or so, when
ii is predicted by the knowing ones
that there will be a sharp advance
in prices. Whether this will be so or
not The Farm ventures no opinion,
but of IN thing We are quite sure,
and that is, that fewer cattle have
been put on full feed during the pres
ent month of August than for many
years past. This is easily accounted
for. The comparatively low prices Of
beeves. the high price of corn, and the
uncertainty in regard to the growing
crop. There is a disposition to wait
and see what happens. I'm the mean.
time very few steers go to the feed
lots. The stock cattle are nearly out
of business.
THE question is, where are the fat
cattle coming from to supply the mar
ket of the world in six months from
now? When We told the New York
editor two years ago, during that
heated spell, that the people would in
side of one year, be paying so per
cent more for their beef, we were
thought to be a mild sort of a lunatic,
or at least an alarmist.
when the advance came, the wise
men of the East laid the blame on the
wicked Chicago packers. II takes from
six to nine months to fatten a steer
to a finish. III there is the advance
In good fat cattle that so many eX-
pect, there will not be so very many
feeders who will be able to take ad-
vantage of it, because, as we have al
ready said, there are very few steers
going to the feed lots about these
times-not half the usual number"
Range is Gone.
Pierre WibauX possesses the facul.
ty of peering into the future a consid,
cradle distance. Not long since in
discussing range conditions with the
Livestock World, he made the asser.
ton that fat beef could no longer be
made on the open range and that the
grazier who intended to keep In the
business must adapt himself to alter.
ed conditions. At that time he was
negotiating with the Northern Paci.
fc for acquisition by purchase of a
large slice of territory, a deal that
was recently consummated. Wibaux's
example must be followed by both
cattle and sheepmen all over the
country. A community of interest in
a range that is rapidly disappearing
is impossible. The rapid multiplied
ton of brands in all the range states
tells the story e~loquently.
Sheep Are Low.
c. +. Hagenbarth, a well known
stockman of Chicago and the West
a few days ago expressed the opinion
in the Chicago Livestock World, thaI
feeding sheep this year will cost more
than last. He stated that there Il
plenty of winter feed and that the
range men are Independent and moi
compelled to ship out. He said alsC
that the corn belt feeder who has
already filled his feed lot has dem
onstrated the possession of good judg
ment. Mr.. Hagenbarth received in
formation while in Chicago that there
was six inches of snow on the grount
at Spencer, Ida. where his sheer
were located.
THAT snow is all right" he sad
ITS a good thing. Ii will make goot
fall feed. The sheepman out our Wa.
Is in good shape just now. White
feed is abundant and The prospec
much brighter than a couple o
months ago and shipping of thii
stock will in consequence be mucl
brighter than otherwise. The Re-
Desert is a veritable garden just low
Winter feed will be abundant and tn
Wyoming wool crop will be immense
"Sheepmen regard present prices a
low and on any further breaks VII
cease shipping. The bulk of the stuf
from our range is all in and the feed
er who hasn't bought his stock vii
have a hard time doing so il he delay
much longer. The Idaho lamb crOl
was very short. We lost fully hall 0
them and it stands to reason tina
there are not many more to come
All the early shippers are in and onl!
the late ones are to come.
Ewes are selling pretty low and !
is not likely that many more will b.
sent in. Rangemen prefer TO hol,
them to shipping and barely gettinI
the freight as returns. Suppose hal
OF them die during the winter. tn
lambs raised by the other half vii
fetch more money than the ewes
cashed in now. That is why the
will stop coming.
81 do not see where any big suppl
of feeders Is 10 rome from during tn
rest of the season, except 1t is froT
Montana. They have a considerable
number up there, but Merinos are !
the majority and the corn belt feede
does not want them. He may, howe
. er, face the alternative OF taking Me
mos or none. You won't see man