THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
DEO 40 
SOME OF THE HINDRANCES TO IM¬ 
PROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF 
AMERICAN BEEF. 
HON. T. C. JONES. 
The public's lack of appreciation of fine 
quality in meat : points prized by butch¬ 
ers-, fair judges' standard of excellence-, 
influences of organizations of dealers and 
speculators, of the dressed meat trade , and 
of a venal press-, individual farmers can't 
afford to breed for Ha- best meat: hard 
work ahead. 
In organizing a co-operative movement to 
induce cattle growers to give more attention 
to the quality ol' the meat they produce, we 
encounter many obstacles, among which may 
he mentioned as the most fm inidable the char¬ 
acter of the demand for this product of our 
agriculture. Americans, though more extrav¬ 
agant. consumers of heel' t han the people of 
auy other country, are surprisingly indiffer¬ 
ent as respects its quality, and as a conse¬ 
quence cattle dealers and butchers give very 
little attention to the eatable excellence of the 
beef they handle. Sometimes the American 
is heard to speak of the meat being fat or lean 
tender or tough; but it is very seldom that 
any criticism is heard respecting the juiciness 
and flavor of the beef. A few years ago, din¬ 
ing with a Fifth Avenue, New York, capital¬ 
ist, I was surprised to learn how little my 
host, who indulged liberally in all t he luxu¬ 
ries of high living, knew about excellence in ( 
beef. The i oast we had that day did not seem 
to please him and he remarked to the steward 
that it was not as tender as it ought to be, to 
which the man in charge of the larder made 
answer: “Well,air, I don’t see how that can 
be, as we have had the meat hanging on the 
books for a week.” It is tiue that the meat 
was tough, but,besides tlns.it was dry aud fla¬ 
vorless. 
In the beef cattle market the standard of 
excellence is a straight, even carcass, that 
will yield a high percentage in the dead, as 
compared with the live weight. It is required 
that the animal shall be properlv fattened, 
but even here, as the present demand is that 
the butcher shall cut off all the fat from his 
best steak or roast, the dealer prefers cattle 
that are fleshy, without being fat! And this 
accounts for the fact that young steers, not 
fully ripe, sell better than the best heifers and 
young cows, which yield beef of the very 
highest quality. 
Another most serious hindrance to improve¬ 
ment in breeding for better quality of beef, is 
to he found io the standard of excellence 
which seems to govern the awarding of pi izes 
at our cattle shows In the exhibition of 
breeding cattle, we have what are denominat¬ 
ed beef breeds shown separately.and iri sweep- 
stake classes, in competition. As a rule, these 
animals are forced for the show to the high¬ 
est degree of fatness that would be practicable 
if they T were intended for slaughter. This 
high condition is regarded as indispensable. 
But style is also essential; the animal roust be 
what is called “up-standing,” With high head 
and crest, like race-horses, aud must have a 
short, slick coat of hair like race-horses, to 
produce which they are covered with heavy 
blankets. Now this high style, this “up-stand¬ 
ing” form is, as every practical cattle grower 
knows, seldom found in connection with good 
quality. The shoulders of such a beast are 
often bare, while the ribs are deficient in 
depth of flesh, ami the absence ol the thick, 
mossy coat of flue hair indicates Inferior 
quality of beef The influence of these ex¬ 
amples of prize-winning animals at our great 
agricultural exhibitions upon the practice of 
the farmers of the country who produce the 
great mass of the beef which supplies our 
markets, is very great, and unless something 
can he done to change their management, the 
injury that must result to the cattle-growing 
interest will tie incalculable The numerous 
associations that have been formed render 
the danger more formidable for the reason 
that most of these organizations, though as¬ 
suming to work iu the interest of the practi¬ 
cal cattle-growers aud farmers of the coun¬ 
try, are, as a matter of fact, generally con¬ 
trolled by dealers and speculators, or by 
mere amateurs in the industries they profess 
to represent. At their meetings we generally 
find but few farmers present, and these have 
but little to say, and do not care to control or 
influence the proceedings. 
Another very serious obstacle we have to 
encounter iu carrying forward the reforma¬ 
tion suggested by the Rural New-Yorker is 
the dead meat trade, so suddenly developed 
at leading cattle marts in the West, from 
which the carcasses of range cattle are 
shipped in refrigerator cars to compete with 
the products of legitimate agriculture ulong 
the lines of our principal railways in all the 
States east of the M ississippi River. With 
the defective taste of the mass of consumers 
who iegard all beef as good that is not tough, 
these carcasses that arc not put upon the 
market by the retailers until eight or ten days 
after slaughter, have become comparatively 
tender by the process of decomposition, and 
in consequence are often pronounced to be 
good beef. 
In view of these considerations, the farmer 
who carries on the business of cattle growing 
as a legitimate, if not an essential branch of 
mixed husbandry,is forced to face the question 
—Will it pay to breed with a view to produc¬ 
ing lieef of the best quality < The answer to 
this question 1 think must be in the negative 
if the farmer, hard-working, frugal, and iso¬ 
lated, without the aid of co-operative associa¬ 
tions, is to continue to encounter the united 
opposition of consumers, trailers, slaughter¬ 
ing combinations and ranch men for whom 
the Government of the United States has been 
furnishing free pasturage. 
This, all candid and well-informed men 
must confess is the present condition of this 
industry. And in addition to the formidable 
obstacles above mentioned, there is yet an¬ 
other most powerful influence operating 
against us: I refer to the newspaper press of 
the towus and cities, which on account, of the 
enormous patronage derived from the com¬ 
mercial classes are generally found to be the 
advocates of dealers and speculators with the 
various combinations of trade and transporta¬ 
tion, rather than of the welfare of legitimate 
producers. 
And yet this great aud most important 
class, the farmers of America, are not with¬ 
out hope. They have a great work to accom¬ 
plish iu overcoming the obstacles I have 
pointed out, which oppose them, uot ouly in 
the branch of industry to which the Rural has 
directed attention, but in marly all branches 
of their vocation. They must take broader 
view's of their duties, as well as of their inter¬ 
ests, if they would compete successfully with 
the rival interests of traders aud speculators. 
The means by which we may hope to carry 
forw'ard the work of improving the quality of 
our cattle, with some suggestions in regard to 
other interests, shall be reserved for future 
numbers <>f the Rural. 
Delaware, Ohio. 
LIVE STOCK NOTES. 
The end of a year is a proper time for cal¬ 
culating the vulucs of the live stock. Unless 
this is done and the owner knows precisely to 
the dollar wbat his animals would bring if 
sold, be cannot manage his business in such a 
maimer as to secure the most profit. Hence 
before the end of the year, a strict account 
should be taken of the value of the stock in 
band as a basis for the coming year's business. 
Aud besides this, the feeding should be done 
in such a systematic way that the cost of this 
may be known, and from it the cost of keep¬ 
ing the stock. It is very easy to lose money 
when u man goes blindly to work and never 
uses figures or paper aud pencil. The farmer 
who is always figuring is the one who makes 
ends meet and gets a good profit in between 
them. Aud there is no part of the farm busi¬ 
ness where it is easier to make or lose money 
than in feeding and eanug for stock. 
HOKSKK. 
Except for the danger of slipping upon icy 
roads, it would lx* better for horses to go with¬ 
out shoes in the winter. When it is not neces¬ 
sary to use the teams on slippery roads, it 
would be preferable to have them barefoot. 
In the South, where the roads are not icy, 
shoes are unnecessary and the feet are better 
without them. When shoes are needed, the 
movable steel calks will be found both safe 
aud convenient. These are screwed in and 
out of the shoes, and are taken out when the 
horses are put iu the stables. 
Great care Is to be taken to have the horses 
fastened securely. A horse getting lose iu the 
night may be badly hurt by being kicked or 
may hurt the others. Sharp shoes are dangerous 
iu this way. Wounds made by them should 
he washed at once with warm wuter and 
dressed with some stimulating Hnimeutor mix¬ 
ture. Halters should be mude so short that 
the foot cannot be got over them and the ani¬ 
mal be cast in the stall. The safest fastening 
is a strong, broad, leather collar with a ring 
sewn in it, and a rope tie with a snap book to 
fasten to the ring. The tie should be fastened 
to the side of the stall by a ring screw bolt 
and be no longer than to hang within a foot of 
the floor. The foot cannot be got over such a 
fastening. 
Mules will withstand harder treatment than 
horses, but to have good mules iu good condi¬ 
tion they should be as well treated as horses. 
Use mules kindly; that is without abuse; they 
will returu kinduess for kinduess. Our ex¬ 
perience goes to show that mules are stubborn 
and vicious when handled by rough, stubborn 
aud vicious drivers. A young mule may be 
made a pet by kindness as easily as a c-olt. 
There are exceptions; but we firmly believe 
this is the rule. It is so with us. 
CATTLE. 
The dairy now working will lie profitable as 
the cows ar._ well kepi,, Keep them clean and 
the skin well carded. It helps the food and is 
an economy, and it is healthful. Feed liber¬ 
ally ; keep the stables warm, by closing all air 
spaces aud admitting only as much air as is 
required—for good ventilation. Cows that 
are coming in should be provided with a 
warm, quiet stall in a separate building, Cut¬ 
ting the fodder is a saving of one third. Corn 
fodder should never be fed whole and the 
wasted butts of it when cut may be thrown 
under the cows if there is auy waste. 
Fattening beeves should lie crowded with 
food. A variety of food will help the appe¬ 
tite. Roughness is indisjiensable for the 
digestion of grain. Daily cardiug is a help to 
making fat, and warm water with line meal 
or shorts stirred iu it is better than cold water 
or water alone. Excess of water is to he 
avoided. Turn off the animals as soon as 
they are in a passable condition. The first 
feeding is the most profitable. 
Calves should be kept strictly free from 
lice; the annoyance from these pests will 
keep them unthrifty and poor. Regular 
rations of grain should be given; for the most 
flesh is laid upon young animals and the 
weight thus gained is the cheapest in the life 
of the animals. What is now gained goes to 
tuako up for the slower growth hereafter; aud 
what is lost now, if ever regained, is only got 
at a cost which is unprofitable. Young calves 
should get warmed skim-milk. It will double 
their growth. A comfortable, warm, dry 
bed will help them very much. 
SBEEP. 
The wool crop is now beiug made. The 
quality of it depends upon regular feeding; 
the quantity depends upon good feeding. Ex¬ 
cessive warmth is unfavorable to a heavy 
fleece. Perfect hpalth is indispensable to 
growth and quality both. The shepherd 
should guide himself accordingly. Costive¬ 
ness is to be avoided by giving roots or bran. 
When the sbeep is seen stretching its legs 
apart, it is a sure indication that the feeding 
is not right. Salt may be needed This should 
be given at least twice a week, aud the regular 
supply will be beneficial. Rain is to be avoid¬ 
ed, and wet snow which hangs to the fleece 
and chills the sheep is very hurtful Close- 
wooled sheep will withstand bad weatner 
much better than those with loose, open fleec¬ 
es. Look out for ticks and get rid of them. 
Keep the feet clean and dry. Give plenty of 
rack room for feeding, so that weaker ones 
are uot crowded out. 
SWINE. 
Do not over-fat ten. Thin, meaty pork is 
best for use and for sale. The last of the feed¬ 
ing puts on the least weight, and of course costs 
most while it. makes the least money. Early 
marketing is, as a rule, the most profitable for 
the seller. Store pigs are more healtntul 
running at large iu a lot with a “dug-out” for 
a shelter than in ordinary i>ens. Nothing 
else is so healthful for pigs as a dry earth bed. 
The most growth is made from mixed feed. 
Corn islhe basis, byt bran, shorts and potatoes 
make better aud cheaper meat. 
Young pigs should get all the waste milk. 
Milk aud bran with boiled small potatoes will 
force them on better than any other food. 
Where waste flesh is to be procured this is 
useful for pigs. Clover hay or corn fodder ) 
cut, wetted and mixed with some meal, Is ex¬ 
cellent for pigs, both young and old. 
Southern stock keepers whose cattle and 
pigs run in the forest range will do well to 
feed some fodder or corn. Corn is cheap, and 
au ear or two daily for each head will keep up 
the weight. But stock of all kinds should be 
kept growing and they will not grow without 
ample food. With good feeding stock may he 
reared more cheaply in the South than any- 
where else. Southern farmers will do well to 
consider if they cannot better feed their stock 
well ami keep them growing through the mild, 
pleasant winter mid save the manure made for 
their fields than liall-starvo their animals aud 
have ouly one year’s growth at two years 
of age. 
CATTLE CLASSES AT CHICAGO FAT 
STOCK SHOW. 
PROFESSOR G. E. MORROW. 
Butchers as judges; Short-horns first-, Aber¬ 
deen- Angus a close second; block and show¬ 
ring awards differ; Angus and high-grade 
Short horn herds best; grades ahead at 
the block; heavy weights; table, of gains 
per day; deductions therefrom; early 
marketing indicated. 
The awards at the Chicago Fat Stock Show, 
just closed, were made by butchers, some of 
whom also had experience as feeders and ex¬ 
hibitors of fat cattle. As a whole, the work 
was more critically done than in any former 
year. The results showed the correctness of 
first impressions that, while no oue breed had 
a clear lead of all others,the Short-boros stood 
first, with the Angus a close second in merit. 
The Herefords did well in the younger classes 
and grade Galloways, Sussex and Devons, all 
brought, credit to their feeders. It Is never to 
be forgotten that the skill of the feeder and 
showman has almost as much to do with suc¬ 
cess at these shows as have the capabilities of 
the breed or individual animal. 
As has been the rule, the carcass prizes were 
not taken by the prize-winners on foot, but 
most of these are said to have given good car¬ 
casses, somewhat over-fat, of course, but free 
from mounds aud bunches of tallow or of oily 
blubber. 
The sweepstakes herd was Mr. Harvey’s 
Aberdeen-Angus, one of the finest lots of cat¬ 
tle over shown at Chicago, with the Iowa 
high grade Short horn herd of Mr. Moniger 
so nearly its equal that the committee divided. 
This latter herd contained the two-year old 
steer declared the best animal in the show, 
and the three-year-old winner over all three- 
year-ohls shown. They were full brothers, 
bred aud fed by the exhibitor. The sweep- 
stakes yearling was a Hereford, and so was the 
sweepstakes calf. The sweepstakes carcass 
prize was awarded to a two-year-old half- 
blood Galloway which had attracted little 
attention alive. The prize for three-year-olds 
went to a Gallow'ay Hereford cross; that for 
yearlings to an Angus. 
A few large steers were shown, not counting 
those in “side-show’s.” One weighed 3.1S5 
pounds, and had no other recommendation. In 
the regular classes there were some remark¬ 
able weights for age, perhaps the most notice¬ 
able case being that of a pure bred Short-horn 
yearling weighing 1 ,<W5 pounds. 
A comparison of the weights by ages, with 
gaiti per day of the various classes shown, is 
interesting and valuable, much more so than 
such facts concerning any oue or two ani¬ 
mals. The accompanying table gives these 
facts for the classes in 
animal was exhibited. 
which 
more 
than 
one 
Breed. 
> 
s 
a 
No. shown j 
r? 
* 
v. — 
Av. W’t. 
Gain per 
day. 
—w 
e ft 
C P 
p < 
» IT 1 
/ J. 
* C+ 
Angus. 
2 
3 
1(157 
1802 
1.711 
1995 
1 
5 
(104 
1235 
2.11 
1500 
Devons. 
3 
2 
1331 
1512 
1.14 
1IHI5 
2 
3 
1U15 
1435 
1.41 . 
1495 
l 
3 
578 
1C53 
1 82 
1105 
2 
183 
850 
2.62 
51 U 
Herefords. 
1 
4 
1)80 
1353 
1.97 
1545 
4 
336 
855 
2.54 
9 0 
Short-horns. 
3 
4 
1285 
I9T5 
1.54 
2185 
2 
11 
838 
1G8‘ 
1.90 
19 5 
1 
15 
632 
13-4 
2.11 
1685 
5 
820 
813 
2 78 
1035 
Grades and crosses. 3 
22 
1275 
im.1 
1 54 
2370 
2 
37 
88’> 
1685 
1 78 
2095 
1 
37 
583 
1281 
2.20 
imfi 
12 
330 
585 
2.53 
950 
In studying this table—and I think it worth 
columns of the opinions of any man, as show¬ 
ing the possibilities of production, of flrst- 
elass beef cattle—care should be taken to 
notice comparative age in days of annuals in 
the same class by years. Thus the daily gain 
of a lot of calves averaging 195 days, ought 
to be greater than that of u lot averaging 3:10 
days, while the average weight would be much 
less. The one three-year-old Angus shown 
weighed 2,235 pounds, and a three-year-old 
Sussex made a good showing, but these are 
uot included In the table. Aside from the 
Devons, which average, perhaps, 250 pounds 
lighter tlmu the others, there are no striking 
differences between the breeds, the Short¬ 
horns uud the grades, which were in good part 
Short-horns, having somewliat the best of the 
contest. 
We are not to accept the figures as repre¬ 
senting the most profitable weight at which to 
market cattle, for even the averages are uot 
reached as a rule in practice, but they do seem 
to indicate that it ought nut to be necessary to 
keep steers until past three years old before 
slaughtering them. 
University of Illinois. 
DEVICE FOR HOLDING A BULL. 
I purchased a large throe-year-old bull last 
winter. My first thought was how to fix a 
device for holding him, that would be handy, 
durable, uud safe. Fig. 478 shows a device 
that fills the bill It is the best I have ever 
seen. It is simple and any blacksmith cun 
very quickly make one. l’ut it on and let it 
remain on as long as the bull is being handled. 
It. is uot in the way of anyibiugorat any time. 
It needs no explauatiou. Lead with a rope or 
Staff aud bitch in the nose-ring or above as 
you see tit.. For mine 1 had a heavy, stout 
harness snap put on the end of the chain to 
hitch in the ring m the uoso, and another snap 
to hitch in the ring half-way between the 
horns. Fit a ring on the horns under the 
