Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-22
THE WEST
COMES TO
THE FRONT
Hay Fed Cattle From the
Big Horn Show up Well
In Chicago

4 = N"is~i"nJt " A0th competition from
what has heretofore been known as
the range country, says the Breeders
Gazette
For six weeks past they have been
Experiencing this competition on the
Chicago market It was their first
taste for it this year, and when they
saw fat steers that had never tasted
grain, outselling their product that
had been on corn six months or so.
their surprise was audible. ~
Cattle men venture the prediction
that within half a decade the supply
of cattle coming from beyond the
Missouri river viii be marketed all
the year round instead of Cutting the
stockyards between the latter part of
August and the end of the gathering
and shipping season.
An eastward movement Of hayfed
range cattle was a novelty TO the
trade. IL emanated largely from the
Big Hole basin in Montana and fur.
nished the Chicago market during May
with about 10000 steers that aroused
enthusiasm among buyers.
They made their debut early in
May in superb form, selling at $3.50
at the outset, the price gradually
dropping to ss95 as quality deterior.
ated and the market declined. Their
weight averaged close around 1850
pounds and they invariably outsold
cattle that had been on corn fve OF
six months.
All through their season they out.
dressed most of the corn fed cattle by
two and three per cent, fact that,
coupled with immunity from shrink,
assured deserved popularity for them
in dressed beef making circles. None
of the Big Hole basin cattle dressed
less than 5915 per cent, while the bulk
of them were credited with go TO 90
per cent on the dressing sheets. At
the same time corn fed steers were
dressing but 50 TO go per cent.
"These hay fed cattle are going to
get a warm reception hereafter" said
james Brown, head cattle buyer for
Armour. "By hay fed l mean native
hay, not alfalfa. There is some quail
ity about native hay that gives them
the finish necessary to make good
beef. They dress well, shrink little,
and owing TO good keeping and hand
ling qualities the meat takes well with
the trade.
"They have been revelation TO
buyers this year" Heretofore Mon.
tana Is hay fed cattle have gone TO the
Pacific coast, but development Of the
Industry made Il imperative that the
eastern outlet should be sought. In
former years Alaska absorbed con-
siderable number Of these cattle, but
Alberta is now producing hay fed beef
and is able to take care Of the Yukon
trade.
Our own Pacific northwest has fur
nished Montana a market for some Of
It's product, but this year California,
Oregon and Washington have had
abundant humidity, an excess Of feed
and plenty of fat cattle, consequently
Montana feeders had no alternative
but to turn their faces toward Chi
eago. To this they were averse, as
their treatment on Pacific coast mar
kets had not always been satisfactory
In the past
Success scored by hay feeders this
season will doubtless prove an ineen-
tive to increasing the output next
year. Good service was furnished by
railroads bringing this stock TO mar.
ket, but between Anaconda and Chi
eago shrink Of 100 pounds per head
Is inevitablc.s
This fact makes such cattle popular
with killers, as they are empty whea
they reach the scales Railroads are
evidently anxious to encourage hay
feeding, as il win distribute the live
soek movement over their lines
throughout the year instead Of con
gesting it during few weeks in the
tall when rolling stock is at pre-
mium and hard to secure.
In the Big Hole basin country feed
ING Is in small hands as a rule.
Droves number 100 to SEQ head. The
cattle are usually started on feed
about Thanksgiving day. stockers
are bought in Oregon or Washington,
the average price this year being $50
per head for 3-year-olds. During the
feeding season the average gain is
about $50 ponnds per head, not a bad
Increase for ave months feeding
period without grain. The elevation
of The country is about 1900 feet
L =. -