36 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



Meantime the northern cattleman has learned that 

 with a full feedyard at his elbow he too can raise calves. 

 The larger herds are gone, but there are thousands of 

 small owners who have gone back to breeding stock and 

 are engaged in raising a superior grade of cattle for their 

 ranges. 



The southern breeders now have found another out- 

 let for their steers in the corn-producing states. There 

 land in some sections is thought to be too high-priced 

 to raise cattle on, and the farmers find it cheaper to go 

 west and buy steers as yearlings or in many instances as 

 calves, and force them to a quick finish on the very best 

 of beef-producing materials. 



A Southern Lamb Trade. The sheep interests in the 

 Southwestern ranges have opened up a trade in lambs 

 which on the whole has been very profitable. The lambs 

 raised there, especially in New Mexico, were found to 

 be well suited for winter feeding. The lamb feeders 

 around Fort Collins, Colo., and other points, where in 

 recent years this branch of the business has grown to 

 the dignity of a great industry, were quick to realize 

 their value. Probably three-quarters of a million lambs 

 are shipped each fall frorn New Mexico ranges into the 

 western lamb-feeding districts and even to the far east- 

 ern feedlots. Their good health, fine feeding qualities 

 and handy weight when fed makes them well fitted for 

 market feeding purposes. 



The feeding is principally on alfalfa hay, with addi- 

 tional rations of corn, kafir and similar grains. On a well 

 balanced ration of Kansas corn and plenty of alfalfa the 

 gains in weight made by these hardy little fellows is 

 remarkable. They come into the markets along in Feb- 

 ruary, March and April, just at a time when there is 



