The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-06-29
HE&D OF D0HEs77CATEo TR0IVZ4 PEEQ

Is not best when freshly killed. but should De
left hanging for four five days before i, is
used
With few exceptions the early attempts to
iomesticate elk were made by men Who
wealthy enough to disregard all thought of profit
In raising them They were usually placed under
the care Of servants and the bucks were left un
castrated until they became old and unmanage
able. Soon the serious problem of controlling
them ou;weighed the novelty of their possession
and ore by one the attempts at domestication
were abandoned.
A desire to preserve this important game ami
NAL has caused renewal Of attempts to breed
1t In confinement and ut present there small
herds under private ownership In many places In
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
as to the possibility OF making the business Of
raising them profitable. or about dozen
cessful breeders nearly all are OF the opinion
that raising elk for market can be made remu-
neratve IL present laws to the sale of the mea:
are modified.
One especially important fact has been devei.
oped by the reports from breeders. 1t is that the
elk readily adapfS itself TO almost any environ
ment. Even within the narrow confines of the
paddccks of the ordinary geological park the AMI.
NAL does well and increases that periodically
the herds have 10 be reduced by sales.
The fullest reports that have been received
by the department OF agriculture from breeders
OF elk from George W. Russ of Eureka
Springs. Ark,
Mr. Russ has a herd Of 81 elk They have
ample range In the O1arks on 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 growth under
this is liable TO be eliminated If the range is I'M
restricted II not closely confined elk do not eat
the bark from trees do they eat evergreens
In clearing out underbrush from fhickets they
are mere useful than goats. since they browse
higher Goats. however. eat closer 10 the ground
and the two animals get along We'll together
Mr.. Russ recommends the of both for clear
ing up brushy land and fitting It for tame grasses
The increase Of elk under domestication Is
equal to that o: cattle. Fully 80 per cent. Of the
females produce healthy youne. An adult male
elk weighs from 200 to 200 pounds: female
from GOO to 500 pounds. The percentage OF
dressed meat is greater than with cattle. but.
owing to hostile game laws. experience In mar
keting IL is very limited an offer of 30 cents a
pound for dressed meat received from ST.
Louis. but the Law would not permit Its export
MIR. Russ SAYS:
From the fact that as high "a $50 a pound
has been paid for the meat In New York city and
Canada and that the best hotels and restaurants
pronounce II the finest of all the meats of man,
rnais. We are Ut the opinion that II laws were
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
Mr.. Russ thinks that large areas OF rough
lands in the United States not now utilized. espe
ciay I'm localities like the Ozarks and the Ale
ghenies could be economically used to produce
venson for sale and he regards the elk espe-
ciaily suited for this purpose.
Another feature Of Mr.. Russs report Is of
more than passing interest He says:
We find from long experience that cattle.
sheep and goats can be grazed in the same lots
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