Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-01-18
SHORTHORN As A
BEEF ANIMAL FOR
AVERAGE FARMER

feeder cattle the last two years: but
do not for one minute think the
beef animal is going to be relegat'
ed to the scrap pile. Some breed
ers declare they will dispose oi
their cattle and buy sheep: but that
is mighty risky business right
now. First thing they know. Just
about the time they get well start
ed in the sheep. the foundation for
which has cost relatively high
figure, sheep viii. have hit the
toboggan and there is then no
money in the wooIies. Don't get
us wrong, on this point however
II you are fixed for 1t. certain
number of sheep on every farm Is
a mighty fine thing as are also some
good livestock OF all kinds: but to
Junk our cattle at times like these
and go wholesale into hlgh-priced
sheep would certainly appear to be
bad policy. Very few farmers can
out guess the markets. 1t would
seem better policy to not only
diversity our farming but also
diversity our livestock as to the
breeds and uses: beef. milk, nut
ton, pork etc.
II then. We decide upon beef cat
tie, which particular breed is best
adapted to our conditions? There
Aft,t,
largely as to how we handle our
cattle. that is. whether we run them
on the range or keep them under
fence. The average farmer, as
rule. does not use the range; he
keeps his cattle in his own pastures
or pastures leased or rented for
that purpose. He wants cattle that
are gentle. attain to n good size
and produce a high quality OF meat;
further. he wants COW that will
on average good feed. produce suf-
ficient milk to raise strapping
good calf. When We consider the
above attributes. disposition. size,
quality and milking propensities.
the Shorthorn fits In better Il
would seem from the farmers poin,
Of view than any other breed. II
there Is a better one we are In favor
of II.
In view of the fact that. on ranges
in the valley and on some o: the
ranges outside. the Hereford IL the
most popular on account Of his So
called better ''rustliny' qualities,
yet the OFF Brothers Shorthorn
wcaner calves were declared by
Scott O'Day, feeder buyer for the
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, to
be the bes; car OF calves bought
by him in tn. valley the past sea-
son. They were the heaviest and
showed superior quality: and they
wer" produced on the range Some
% the users of the reserve. par
ticulnrly on the Western Slope are
now claiming they must Introduce
Shorthorn blood into their herds In
order to secure more size In their
cattle, largely thru the increased
milk flow OF III. resulting offspring.
However. the range question IL
really DEPRESSION. but worth think
inr over. The farmer wants COW
that after giving u good flow OF
milk Will. when near the close Of
her lactatIon period. start to Law on
flesh becoming well mcated over AZ
the close Of her drv period Their.
Us nearly always tim. here In the |
valley along In June or the fore
part OF July. when fat cows COM
mnnd good figure thru the local
butcher. II COW fails 10 breed or
for SOM" other reNs"n D'ses her
ur"fulness. and Is OF III. right tyne.
sire and quality. she can be turned
off very profi,nbly At that time. |
Mr. ". G. Moorecraft of Del Nortc
few years ago bouch, registered |
Shorthorn COW and this COW. after |
producing several calves. failed to
breed nj III" nr" 81 ~ years. She
was slaughtered and sold. dressing |
ont $40 lbs. From IN. age Of tn.
COW u is SAT. to say she did not
dress out over ~ or q. percent
which would make her live weight
considerably over 1900 pounds. Mr..
y c, Sandoraon sold on foo, In July
past. hivh grade Shor,horn COW
which tipped the scales nj 1890,
pounds for which h." received sX
cents per mound. making n total OF
toi.2s for tho coN.
II Is significant 10 note In rc-
port published by Armours that
both the sire and the dressing per.
ccntagc Of the market class NJ beef
cnt'i" ar~ both on the decrease. and
IL tsS ks. - ..R . al