The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1918-07-06
STOCK RAISING AN IMPORTANT
F@ INDUSTRY

Union County has long been rec
ognized as the most important stock
caising center in New Mexico, and
with each year this industry has
crown larger and larger until the
annual shipments of cattle and sheep
aut of Clayton, the principal ship
ping point, have reached hundreds
of cars. 1t is estimated that fully
two hundred and fifty car loads Of
cattle and approximately six hun
dr id car loads of sheep were shipped
to eastern and southern markets
from Clayton. In addition to the
live stock, full 100000 pounds of
wool are shipped from here each
year.
According to the 1877 abstract of
assessment as prepared by the Un-
ion County assessor, a total of IT,
$50 head of range cattle we're fed
for market in this county last year.
A large majority if these cattle were
shipped from Clayton. In addition
to this large number of cattle o total
of 50i79 head of sheep were fed in
this county, and the assessment roll
shows total of i2, l63 head of horses
and mules. From these figures it is
evident that Union County is 10 be
considered when the question Of live
stock arises.
With i,i77,S37 acres of grazing land
this county is admirably IL, ated for
cattle raising country. Most OF
this land is still unfenced and the
cattle are ranged over the country
just like they were in the early days
of the cowboy and the Indian. II is
no common sight for tourists TO come
upon large herds of several thousand
head of cattle grazing on the open
lands. and there are still hundreds
of cowboys in this section of the
state who add a touch of frontier
romance TO the country. There are
several large cattle ranches in the
] county, the largest of which con-
tains some $4,000 acres Of grazing
land. Within recent years a por-
ton of this land has been put under
cultivation and many ranchers have
added farming work to their stock
raising activities.
The Colorado & Southern railroad
offers excellent shipping facilities
for stock raisers in this section. The
road connects with the Ft. Worth,
Dallas and other southern markets
on the south, and with the Denver
and Kansas City markets on the
west. During the shipping season
many stock trains run out of Clayton,
Des Moinss and other towns along
the line. The C.,& S. makes connec-
tions with the Rock Island at Dali
hart, Texas, a few miles from Clay
ton, and thus affords an entry to
other markets.
Until within recent years stock
men in this section of the state have
dealt exclusively in range cattle and
sheep. Within the last few years,
however many ranchers have
awakened to the fact that the dairy
cattle field offers exceptionally good
inducements in this country, and
many of them have gone extensively
into the dairy cattle industry. With
the advent Of dry farming under
scientific methods many good en-
silage crops are being produced here
which makes dairy cattle feeding in
both winter and summer a very
profitable industry. II is expected
that the dairy industry will make a
rapid advancement within the next
year or so, and already many inqui-
ries have been received from cas-
ern people regarding the possibili-
ties for the installation of cream
cries, cheese factories, etc. in this
section.
Stockmen will find this an ideal
section Of the state to raise cattle,
and If interested in the dairy indus
try il will be well to get in touch
with the people in this section Of the
country Possibilities for Develop
ment of this industry are greater
here than any other place in the
crraat ooufbuvaef