Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-06-20

united States un-
der grazing condi-
tons as they have
existed and exist
now beyond the
Missouri river. The breed has been
tried out in more than one section and
in every instance the performance was
satisfactory In every respect to those
whose money was involved. My own
experience with these cattle has, how
ever, been on what are popularity
known as the X. 1. T. Ranches in
Texas, owned by the Capitol Syndicate.
Up to and including 1892 there were
purchased for the X. I. T. ranges, not
far from 5000 bulls, of which Aber-
deen-Angus comprised not quite IA per
cent HerefOrds, about so per cent, and
Shorthorns not quite 80 per cent, and
small proportion Of Aberdeen-Angus
was due to the fact that until a few
years previous 1t was breed compare
lively unknown in this country. It's
numbers were inconsiderable and bulls
were hard to get, selling at much
higher figures than those Of any other
breed.
Originally the x. /. T. Ranch COM
prised 100000 acres of land in the
Panhandle of Texas. The cattle with
which 1t was stocked came largely
from the country tributary to the
Texas & Pacific Ry. and were Of bet
ter average quality than those COM
mon to the country. About the early
nineties most Of the bulls purchased
were purebreds, and after 1892 moth
ing but purebreds were bought. The
range, averaging about 200 miles north
and south and 25 miles east and west,
and being all fenced and cross-fenced,
offered good opportunities to test the
three breeds under practically similar
conditions and. after few years, the
pastures in which each were kept be-
gan to show the respective breed char
acteristics. Every year, by careful Sc
lection of breeding bulls and careful
culling of undesirable females-unde-
sirable owing to color or quality-tbe
herds rapidly assumed to all appear
ances the quality and character Of
purebreds. When this experiment was
begun the Shorthorn breed was well
known by reputation in the Southwest.
They had been tried previously in the
section from which the foundation
she-stock had been purchased and
their reputation at that time was.
whether deserved or undeServed, that
they were good cattle, but not snffi-
GENTLY hardy for the climate of the
Texas Panhandle. At that time Here
fords were being introduced and had
no prejudice to contend with, as few
of the people there knew anything
about them as ranging cattle. They
were readily adopted by ranchmen
seeking to improve their herds and
were extensively introduced into the
Panhandle. The Aberdeen-Angus came
in after the Herefords, but at this
time they were few in number in the
United States and it was impossible to
secure them in the numbers required
at prices range men could afford to
pay. Herefords were being pushed by
a coterie of breeders exultant over
conflicts from which they had emerged
with Shorthorn sponsors and were
claiming "the earth and the fullness
thereof" for their breed. AS nothing
succeeds like success the Herefords
soon became the dominant breed in the
Panhandle. interests antagonistic to
the Aberdeen-Angus diligently pub
lished that 1t was not suitable for
range purposes, that the bulls would
bunch together and stay away from the
she-cattle, consequently they did not
get the percentage of calves possible
with bulls of other breeds. Allegation
was also made that the stock could not
stand the heat of summer or the rigors
of winter. These sentiments were not
lacking on the X. /. L. Ranch, but after
the adoption of the three breeds, each
was given fair trial and the results
demonstrated that no breed was better
adapted to range conditions than the
Aberdeen-Angus. They proved them
selves prolific, hardy, good rustlers,
early maturers and good sellers, the
steers of this breed being usually the
first to be sold off the range and in
variably commanding premium over
the others. And when the land was
finally sold, the owners closed out the
other breeds, retaining the Angus. Mr..
A. G. Boyce, manager of the Texas
Ranch, reporting on the best results,
said: "The more see of the black
cattle the more / like them and think
they are the cattle for this country"
1t way be of interest to those seek
ing information regarding Aberdeen
Angus cattle on the range to know that
we have always considered steers of
this breed-both as feeders and beeves
the quickest and best sellers, and
when time and conditions permit, we
have always found it to our advantage
to ship Aberdeen-Angus beeves by
themselves, as there seemed to be a
wider market for them at the stock
yards and they have almost Invariably