East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-12-13
WESTERN BEEF FINDS
ODEASTERN MARKET
ARE IN SOUNDER
CONDITION THAN OTHERS
Present Attractive Appearance on Foot
and When Dressed-Settling OF
West Reduces Amount of Range
National Rorest Ranges Should be
Utilized.

Western beef is coming into its
own. Not over a decade ago eastern
bxyers purchased range-bred steers
only when they were unable to fill
their feed pens from other sources,
and 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 range-bred
steers are usually in the very best of
health. They have a splendid frame
upon which to build, are we'll muscled
and boned, and being accustomed to
the rigors of the western climate,
continue to put on flesh in the eastern
feed pens when cattle from other sec
tions, being fed under Identical cons
ditions, are losing flesh on account of
the inclement weather conditions.
This western steer only demands that
he be given plenty of good fresh water
and sufficient feed so that he may
never be hungry and he will always
give a good account of himself and re-
turn many dollars in profits to the
feeder when he is sold for the block
In the spring.
Are Ready Sellers.
These steers shed early under ia
vorable conditions. and when they
have reached the stockyards they
show an exterior finish that other
cattle, lacking the same health and
ruggedness fail to show. This makes
the western steers ready sellers on the
market, and after they have been
butchered the percentage of the
weight of the dressed carcass over
that of other steers under the same
conditions is so perceptible as to i'm
mediately attract the attention of
those keen far-sighted men who
handle the yard end of the business.
Range Reduced.
The settlement OF the West is rap
idly reducing the amount of avail
able range and is forcing the cattle
to go higher and higher into the hills
In search of forage. This is greatly
increasing the importance of freely
utilizing the ranges within the Ma
tional Forests, and every endeavor is
beng made by the Forest Service to
open hitherto inaccessible ranges by
the construction OF trails and bridges,
and unused arid ranges by the de-
velopment of water. In these higher
elevations the grass Is usually much
finer in quality and more nutritious,
while the climate is much more rig
orous; both of which conditions re-
suit In the animals being in better
health and having more solid flesh
when placed on the feeder market in
the fall This fall has seen large
numbers of the range-bred steers,
most of which come from ranges
within National Forests, topping the
feeder markets at all points where
feeder steers are sold.
Holding Steers Exclusively.
SO great has become the demand
for cattle of the quality mentioned
that hundreds of stockmen through
out the West are selling their punches
OF stock cattle and are beginning to
handle steers exclusively on the ola
ranges where few years ago one
was accustomed to see large herds OF
cows and calves. you will find today
equally large punches made up en-
tirely OF steers. some OF which may
perhaps come from Old Mexico, some
from Texas. while Arizona and New
Mexico usually furnish their quota
These steers are brought into these
western ranges at from eighteen
months to two years old. They become
acclimated the first year, while in the
second and third years they become
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
greater than the supply the price re-
ceived on sale must constantly in
crease. That this is true of the steer
business, one can easily ascertain
through conversation with any one OF
the western stockmen who make this
a business They will tell you that
they have made more money in the
last two or three years in handling
steers than they made in ten years
In handling strictly stock cattle.