The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-15
WESTERN BEEF FINDS
GOODEASTERN MARKET

WoSlSIu DeSL Is coming into It's own.
Not over decade ago eastern buyers
purchased range-bred steers only when
they were unable to fill their feed pend
from other sources, and usually offered
q much lower price for this class of
stock than they were willing to pay for
that secured from other places.
Experience mas taught these buyers
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, con-
tinue to put on flesh in the eastern feed
ponds when cattle from other Sec
TONS being fed under identical con-
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 NAV
never be hungry and he will always
give q good account of himself and re-
turn many dollars in profits to the
feeder when he is sold for the block
in the spring.
These steers shed early under favor
able conditions. and when they have
reached the stoclzyards they show an
exterior finish that other cattle. lack
ing the same health and ruggedness.
fail TO show. This makes the western
steers ready sellers on the market.
and after they nave been butchered
the percentage Of the weight of the
dressed carcass over that of other
steers under the sane conditions is SO
preceptaible as to Immediately attract
the attention of those keen, far-sighted
men who handle the yard end of the
business.
The settlement of the west is rapid
ly reducing the amount of available
range and is forcing the cattle to go
higher and higher into the hills in
search Of forage, This is greatly in1
creasing the importance of freely
utilizing the ranges within the nation
al forests, and every endeavor is be-
ing 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 regor-
Gus; 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
fall. This fall has seen large num-
bers 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.
So great has become the demand
for cattle of the uality mentioned that
hundreds of stocgmen throughout the
west are selling their punches of stock
cattle and are beginning to handle
steers exclusively. On the old ranges
where a few years ago one was ac-
customed TO see large herds of cows
and calves. you will find today equally
large punches made up entirely of
steers, some OF which may perhaps
have come from Old Mexico, some from
Texas, while Arizona and New Mex
leo usually furnish their uota. These
steers are brought into these western
ranges at from eighteen months to
two years old. They become acclimat-
ed the frat year, while In the second
and third years they become suffici-
emily emily mature so that they may
be taken to market
The demand for cattle OF this kind
IL greater than the supply and as in
ali 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
91gYRfuf@g. one can easily y,
through conversation with any one Of
the western stoclmen who make this
business. They viii tell you that
they have made more money In the
last two or three years In handling
steers than they made i'm ten years
in handling strictly stock cattle.