Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-12
SPLENDID EASTERN
MARKET FOR BEEF
FROM THE WEST
Forest. Service Cooperating
With the CattIemen to Afford
the Fullest Use of the Nation
al Forest Range,
tForest Service RulletIn.l

- ~ hNll'AANsf
Western beef is coming into it's
own, Not over a decade ago eastern
buyers purchased range bred steers
only when they were unable TO m
their feed pens from other sources,
ana usually offered a much lower
price for this class of stock than they
were willing to pay for that secured
from other places.
Experience has taught these buy
ers, however, that western rangc-bred
steers are usually in the very best of
health. They have splendid frames
upon which to build. are well muscled
and boned, n being accustomed to
the rigors OF the western climate, cons
tinue to put on flesh in the eastern
feed pens when cattle from other see
tons, being fed under identical con-
d%itions, are losing flesh ~ account of
the inelement weather conditions.
This western steer only demands that
he he given plenty Of good fresh wa
ter and sufficient feed so that he may
never be hungry and he viii always
give a good account of himself and
return many dollars In profits to the
feeder when he Is sold for the block
in the spring.
These steers shed early under ia
vorable conditions, and when they
have reached the stockyards they
show an exterior finish that other cat
tie, lacking the same health anG rug
%gedness. fail to show, This makes the
western steers ready sellers on the
market, and after they have been
butchered he percentage of the weight
of the dressed carcass over that of
other steers under the same conditions
is so %perceptible as to Immediately at
tract the attention Of those keen, far
sighted men who handle the yard end
Of the business.
The settlement of the west is rapid
~ reducing the amount Of available
range n Is forcing the cattle to go
higher and higher into the hills in
search of forage. This is greatly In
creasing the Importance Of freely nth
izing the ranges within the national
forests, and every endeavor is being
made by the forest service to open
hitherto inaccessible ranges by the
construction of trails aud bridges ana
unused arid ranges by the develop
ment of water. In these higher elc-
vations the grass is usually much finer
In quality and moro nutritious, white
the climate is much more rigorous
both of which conditions result in the
animals being in better health and
having more solid flesh when placed
on the feeder markets in the Iall. This
fall has seen large numbers Of the
rangc-brcd steers, ost of which come
from ranges within national forests,
topping the feeder markets at all
points where feeder steers are sold.
So great has become the demand
for cattle of the quality mentioned
that hundreds of stockmen through
out the west are selling their punches
oil stock cattle and are beginning to
handle steers exclusively. On the old
range where a few years ago one was
accustomed to see large herds of cows
and calves, You will find today equally
large lunches made up entirely of
steers, some of which may perhaps
ave come from Old Mexico. some
from Texas, while Arizona and New
Mexico usually furnish their quota.
steers are brought into these
ranges at from eighteen
months to two wears Old They be-
come acclimatcd the first year. while
in The second and third years they be
come sufficiently mature so that they |
may be taken to market.
The demand for cattle Of this kind
Is greater than the supply, and as IN
all other cases where the demand Is |
than the supply the price re-
on sale must constantly in
crease. That this is true ~ the steer
ore can easily ascertain
conversation with any one of
he western stockmen who make this
business. They viii tell you that
hey have made more money In the
two or three years IN handling
teers than they made I'm ten years
n handling strictly stock cattle.