Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-03-24
Texans Hope to Produce One at
Reduced Cost.
With MuntIae Deer Of India Founda-
tlon Will Be Laid for Animal
That viii Thrive In Lone
Star state.

Galveston, Text have believed
Tor a long time that Texas could pro-
duce a food animal that would come
into more general use than any at
present to be found ON the farms and
ranches of the state" said Mr.. Lee
Mountfort. Mr.. Mountfort has ranch
In the vicinity of Robstown, Nueces
county, and has for some time past.
he says. been conducting experiments
In animal breeding 81 have been
watching the work Of Luther Burbank
Tor long time" Mr.. Mountfort con-
tinued, land 1t gave me the idea that
[ am at present working out. or
cours, I cannot hope to do in the ami
NAL kingdom what Burbank has done
with fruits, but the main principle
underlying both our efforts is to de-
termine what product is necessary
how the present product is to be I'M
proved upon, and then work out the
line of improvement.
Now take the case of meat In
Texas. For years Texas has been
considered a COW country, SO far as
meat was concerned. Recently the
breeders have been affected by the de-
mand for hogs to the extent that hog
raising has predominated. Sheep are
also raised. But there is need In
Texas for a food animal that Is small
W than the COW, hog or sheep, and
bigger than the domestic hen or the
rabbit, which is SO easily killed on our
ranches. The meat supply OF the aV-
erage ranch is at present drawn
from the smokehouse, and while there
are a few Texans who will deery ba-
con and ham as a diet, there are also
few but will admit that fresh meat
Is better, when it can be obtained.
There are not many farms where
sheep, for example, can be killed ire
uuently and easily used before some
of 1t spoils. This is even more true oil
beef. The hogs are killed at one time
Of the year and the meat necessarily
preserved. How, then, is the problem
to be met? Obviously not by develop
ment of any of the existing species OF
animals now indigenous to Texas. We
must have a new breed. II we can't
create It 1t must be imported. There's
my chain of reasoning In nutshell,
AZ looking about for some animal
that is good for food and that Will
thrive in the climate of southwest
Texas, have read a great deal oil
various breeds. can find few AMI
mails that are more suitable, to my
view, than the little-known 'Muntjac
deer of India. This animal is beau
tiful little creature, and is only about
81 or 90 inches in height 1t has small
horns, but Is not combatiye, or large
enough to be dangerous. 1t is similal
to the sheep in its diet, feeding upon
practically any kind of heritage. The
meat from the muntiac. | understand
Is of delicious flavor, and possesses
that slight gamey taste that makes
the epicure prefer venison to almos
any other meat.
AS 1 view the situation, the bring
Ing to the country of small mamma
of this size is of enough Importance tt
justify some little expense. Aftel
thinking 1t over, have arranged will
one of my friends, Capt. Richard Wat
son OF the tramp steamship Punjaub
to bring me some. The Puniaub oil
her present trip Is to go from Cap
Town to Calcutta, and can obtain tn,
muntjac there. have asked him Il
get several pairs, eight or ten II pos
sible to accommodate them, as severa
will doubtless die on the trip. Blu
with those that survive | hope to la.
the foundation for brand new breeI
Of farm food animals in Texas.
II have heard that breeder In Ger