The Yale expositor., 1910-03-11


WI ago eastern buyers pur-
VI " chased 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 Sc
cured from other places.
Experience has taught these buyers,
however, that western range-bred
isteers are usually in the very best of
health They have a splendid frame
upon which to build, are well muscled
and boned, and being accustomed to
the rigors of the western climate, con-
ltinue to put on flesh in the eastern
feed pens when cattle from other Sec
itions, being fed under identical condi-
tions, are losing flesh on account OF
the inclement weather conditions.
This western steer only demands that
ihe be given plenty of good fresh wa
ter and sufficient feed so that he may
never be hungry and he will always
give a good account of himself and
return many dollars 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 stockya:ds 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 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 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
ily 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 in.
'creasing the importance Of freely util-
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 and bridges,
ard 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 rigor-
Gus. both of which conditions result
in the animal 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 ma.
tional forests. topping the feeder mar
kets 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 lunches
OF stock cattle and are beginning TO
handle steers exclusively. On the old
ranges where few years ago one was
accustomed to see large herds Of
cows and calves, you will find to-day
equally large punches made up entire
ly of steers. some of which may per-
haps have come from Old Mexico,
some from Texas. while Arizona and
New Mexico usually furnish their
quota. These steers are brought in
TO these western ranges at from IS
months to two years old. They be-
come acclimated 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
greater than the supply, the price