The new era., 1910-06-30
HERD or DoHE577CATEo WeoZNA pEEQ

is not best when freshly killed. but should be
left hanging for four or five days before it is
used
With few exceptions the early attempts to
domesticate elk made by who were
wealthy enough to disregard all thought of profit
In raising them. They were usually placed under
the of servants and the bucks were left
-castrated until they became old and unmanage-
able. Soon the serious problem of controlling
them outweighed the novelty OF their possession
and one by one the attempts at domestication
were abandoned. - S. iu %. -a-, -'5=7EI :
desire to preserve this important game AMI
NAL has caused renewal of attempts to breed
1t in confinement and at present there are, small
herds under private ownership in, many places IN
b the United States, The biological survey has re-
Gently obtained much information from owners
of herds in regard to their experience in breeding
and rearing the animals and also their opinions
to the possibility of making the business Of
raising them profitable OF about dozen
cessful breeders nearly all are of the opinion
that raising elk for market can be made remu-
nerative If present laws to the sale of the meat
modified. d. .,i,
One especially important fact has been devel-
oped by the reports from breeders. It is that the
elk readily adapts itself to almost any environ
ment. Even within the narrow confines of the
paddccks of the ordinary geological park the ami
/ NAL does we'll and increases SO that periodically
the herds have to be reduced by sales. NJ y r
The fullest reports that have been received
by the department of agriculture from breeders
of elk are from George w. Russ of Eureka
Springs Ark. fses e-1---
Mr. Russ has a herd of "a elk. They have
ample range In the Ozarks rough land covered
with hardwood forests and abundant underbrush.
The animals improve the forest by clearing out
part of the thicket. They feed on buds and leaves
to height of eight feet and any growth under
this is liable to be eliminated If the range is un-
restricted. If not closely confined elk do not eat
the bark from trees nor do they eat evergreens.
In clearing out underbrush from thickets they
are useful than goats, since they browse
higher. Goats however, eat closer to the ground.
and as the two animals get along we'll together
Mr.. Russ recommends the use of both for clear
ing up brushy land and fitting 1t for tame grasses.
The increase of elk under domestication is
equal to that of cattle. Fully 80 per cent. of the
females produce healthy young. An adult male
elk weighs from 700 to 1000 pounds; female
from 600 to 800 pounds The percentage of
dressed meat Is greater than with cattle, but.
owing to hostile game laws. experience in
keting 1t is very limited. An offer of 40 cents
pound for dressed meat received from st.
Louis, but the law would not permit its export.
Mr.. Russ says:
From the fact that as high as $3.50 a pound
has been paid for the meat in New York city and
Canada and that the best hotels and restaurants
pronounce 1t the finest of all the meats Of man.
mails of the opinion that II laws
such that domestcated elk meat could be fur.
nished 1t would be many years before the supply
would make the price reasonable compared with
other meats. Elk meat can be produced in many
sections of this country at less cost per pound
than beef. mutton or pork
td Mr. Russ thinks that large areas Of rough
lands in the United States not utilized, espe-
ptally in localities like the Ozarks and the Alle-
ghenies. could be economically used to produce
yenison for sale and he regards the elk as espe-
cially suited for this purpose.
~ ,,rAgother feature OF Mr. Russs report is Of
more than passing interest He says
I'VE, find from long experience that CATTLE
ahe nd goa he n
with elk, providing. however, that the lots or
Enclosures not small; the larger the area the
better. We know of no more appropriate place to