The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-01-17


the profitable raising of cattle on the
farm lands of the states further east.
The free grass kept the cattle alive
summer and winter the year around,
without any other cost than the ga
thering and marketing and the per-
centage of loss incurred, which varied,
was not extremely heavy as long as
the range was open and grass good.
The rapid depletion of the ranges
from over-stoclSing soon emphasized
free range was unstable as a business
proposition and that a repeated and
constant change of methods in doing
business was necessary to stay in the
game at all.
From raising beef to raising feeders
was the first jolt felt. Last winter
preparation became necessary to avoid
great losses, as the once luxurious
grasses became denuded by over
grazing. AS the range became short
er and shorter, even in the summer
time, calf crops fell below the profit
line, then the cows were sold and
southern steers were brought in and
grown out generally for feeders. The
gradual but steady encroachment of
the farmer settler crowded the cow
man farther and farther back to the
rougher sections of the country, in
deed driving many entirely out Of
business, especially the larger out
fits.
The growing Of a poor class Of
southern steers, bought by head to be
sold by the pound, soon failed to show
profitable margin on the ever in
creasinR cost Of running them. At
the present time there seems to be a
general tendency to once more return
to the faithful COW, that will always
stay with you if given half a chance.
This is as it should be, but we must
go forward both in the quality Of the
cattle raised and the methods EN-
ployed in taking care Of them. In some
sections Of Colorado the dairy COW
is proving the most desirable and the
most profitable, but in the greater
part Of the state the beef COW is des-
tined to hold sway Climatic condi-
tions, natural environment and the
great strength Of our wild grasses
grown at high attitudes all combine
to make Colorado the natural home
Of the finest feeders produced on the
American continent. All eyes are
turned our way and all that is neces-
sary for Colorado cattlemen to do is
to follow the lead Of those who have
read the handwriting on the wall and
are now raising this class Of cattle.
Two things are absolutely neces-
sary to success, good blood and
enough to eat, both winter and sum-
mer." Utah and several other of the
western states that do not raise as
good cattle as we do have already
passed Legislation requiring the use
of pure bred bulls on the open range.
We have a statute in Colorado to reg
ulate the use Of bulls on the range,
but it is so antiquated that it is al
most meaningless. It only requires
half-bloods and talks about Cherokee
bulls and Jerseys, and was evidently
passed before Guernseys, Holsteins,
and other improved dairy breeds were
known in the confines of this state.
All Of our progressive rangemen
are using nothing but registered bulls
Of one Of the recognized beef breeds.
The great majority of those still using
inferior bulls when commenting on
this subject invariably say they would
like to use registered bulls if there
was any way of compelling all Of the
users Of the same range to adopt the
same class of bulls. Are we going to
take a back seat for Utah All in
favor Of doing so hold up your hands.
The cattlemen of Colorado are to be
congratulated on their recent great
victory at the last election in the de-
feat of the iniquitous Post Herd Law
bill, which was directly designed to
ruin the cattle business of this state;
but this is not the end. Over eighty
five thousand voters in the state gave
evidence that the present method of
using the public commons is not en-
tirely satisfactory. The farmers