New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-26
LIVESTOCK ON EASTERN FARMS.
The Successful Competition of the West in
Beef Animals
Frank d. Ward. Batavia. y. 7.

How RAPIDLY the wheels go round In 1905,
Just one hundred years ago, George Renick
drove bunch of fat steers from Southern Ohio
to Baltimore this being the first lot of cattle
to come from beyond the Allegheny Mountains
to the sea board markets, Thus was started
competition between the Eastern and Western
farmers in meat productions competition
which increased in after years to an extent that
practically drove the Eastern farmer out of the
field not so much so because conditions favored
the Western feeder account of the rela-
lively inferior equipment of the Eastern farmer.
Ohio was then the Far West, but the lines were
heightened the outposts extended, year by year,
until they have reached the mountain ranges,
and thus is placed barrier to any further ex-
tension. The building Of the transcontinental
railways, which followed the close OF the Civil
War; was great aid in opening up TO the feed
err the free grass ranges of the extreme West
and Southwest, and at the same time providing
a means of transportation to the worlds best
markets. Those Ohio breeders and feeders OF
one hundred ago were far sighted. shrewd men,
and as leaders in the development Of beef cat
tie they set pace that has never been exceeded.
While I have no desire at this late day to
stir I'D strife as to the relative merits of the
various breeds OF cattle. 1t must be admitted
by all that the shorthorn. was the great factor
in the development of beef cattle in this coun-
try. and at about the time when this first bunch
of fat cattle were driven from Ohio to the coast
and for years following lmportations of short
horns had gone direct from Great Britain into
Ohio and Kentucky, where they exerted a Won
derful influence In building up type Of beef
cattle which were of a class to win out in any
com petition, no matter how keen.
I purposely referred to the inferior equipment
of the Eastern farmer. and it seems to me that
the thing that to a greater degree than any
other has stood squarely in the way of success
in the production of meat or any kind OH the
Eastern farm is the inferior quality Of our
breeding animals for the purposes for which
they are supposed to be bred In the earlier
days of breeding beef breeds of cattle in this
country Network State was recognized CEN
tire in the breeding Of certain aristocratic fami-
lies of shorthorns and. seemingly. every other
quality was sacrificed in our efforts to keep the
breeding within certain well defined lines. 1t
was Bates first, Bates last, and Bates all the
time have seen bull calves sold at less than
one week old at $1,000 each. service bulls at
from So 900 up. and in one instance a one-half
interest in q four-year-oId Bates bull sold at
$4,000 the top prices being reached at the dis
persal sale of the New-York Mills herd, where,
among other wild prices, single cow was sold
at $4,000. It seemed to be a case of where the
NAL was attached to the pedigree was thrown
in as a. chrome AS a rule our Eastern breeders
were breeding pedigrees. while Ohio and Ken
lucky were breeding cattle The Eastern idea
was as to length and style Of family genealogy,
while the Western man was looking for early
maturity, good feeding qualities and thickness
and quality OF loin roasts.
Long before I can remember, my father owned
a large herd of shorthorns, and while he was
very conservative in his views. 1 realize how
this pedigree craze Influenced him as well as
every other breeder Of shorthorns. I well re-
member talk we had at about the time when
first otsd, in reference to contemplated pur-
chase of a bunch of heifers. some OF which were (
remotely descended from the Importation Of
1917 The heifers of unusually good quality. |
the price was reasonable. and we were anxious /
IN add more females to the herd but after
studying their breeding he turned the entire lot
down, saying that If it were known that we had |
any of such questionable breeding in the herd |
II might fnfure our reputation and result in /
sales in future. And what about this |
importation Of 1917. which was unpopular |
among aristocratic breeders? They were some |
OF the very best shorthorns ever imported up to |
that time and as remember the Renick Broth |
ers, whose father drove that first lot OF steers |
from Ohio to the Baltimore market in 1905, |
were prominent members OF the company that |
imported them. a II was always a good |
animal and the western men were shrewd |
enough to recognize merit in whatever family 1t |
might be found. while in our own insistence on
4 particular family or line of breeding too
many OF us following q senseIess fad
The butchers block is the ultimate goal for
all beer cattle, ana the line or breed
ing Of the animal counts for naught Intrinsic
merit as shown in the quality of carcass must
always be a first consideration in establishing
he value of pedigree. 1t must be understood |
hat I have no desire to undervalue good breed
ng but a pedigree TO be OF value must first OF !
Ill represent a high type of animal and the |
greater the number Of such typical animals
cund among the direct ancestry the more yaiu-
lhle the pedigree, for the reason that 1t in
7ures greater prepotency In breeding
Another mistake of the Eastern farmer has
,een the prevailing habit OF using, too cheap
Inferior sires II is the experience OF breeders
Il every class OF improved livestock that their
greatest demand has been for a pure bred ami
nal that is for sale at low price, while our
competitors Of the West demanding and are
Using. the very best sires they can buy and
With little regard to price. And this same spirit
4 enterprise in breeding the best and nothing
'ut the best, is being shown among the breed +
n OF Argentina, uho IN the future Utu psovs