Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1916 — RANCHING [ARTICLE]

RANCHING

Cattle and Horse Ranching In Western Canada Steers Brought 10 Cents a Pound ** on the Seattle Market That big money is made by the largo cattle rancher in Western Canada, and also by the small farmer as well, la shown by the undisputable facts presented from time to time. A rancher, near Glelchen, Alberta, who commenced in,.'a small way nine years ago, recently disposed of 1,243 cattle at a total bf $101,304.50, and this was only his surplus stock for the present season. A December shipment of 217 head of ranch steers brought the owner an average of over SBO per head, They were taken straight from the range without any grain feeding and were in excellent condition to be sold for the Christmas trade. Another shipment of 100 head, averaging S7O each, was made to Seattle. The highest price paid on the Seattle market was for an Albertan steer, which weighed 1,700 lbs., and brought the fancy price of 10c per lb., or $l7O. Six carloads of live stock from ranches 65 miles from Plncher, Alberta, shipped ,to Spokane, excited keen* competition there on account of (heir exceptional quality. The price realized was $10,028.’ American dealers say they must look to Canada for beef supplies. _ A livestock firm, which has shipped over 2,000 head of beef cattle to the American farmer since the middle of November, reports a splendid reception of Alberta stock in the United States.

A carload of choice Alberta steers were sold early In January for shipment to the British Columbia coast • at $6.70 per 100 lbs. and, later on, a lot from. Carstairs brought $6.90 —the highest price paid since the spring of 1915. Shipments from Calgary livestock yards during 1915 were: Horses, B,67scattle, 30,577; hogs, 144,515; sheep. 12,410. A course in agriculture and livestock demonstration which has been, conducted by the Provincial Dept, of Agriculture here was well attended, showing the Interest taken by city residents in agricultural progress. John Young, of Sidney, Man., gives his experiences in sheep-raising as follows, as quoted in a local paper: “I bought a bunch of fifty ewes, which cost me $262.50. With this little flock I demonstrated just what can be done in the sheep business. This fall I sold fifty fat lambs at $6.50 per head, $325, and 18 of the best ewe lambs, which I kept, 1 value at SB.OO per head, $144. The wool sold at an average of $2.07 per head, $103.50. This makes the very pice total of $572.50.” “They ran out nearly every day all winter. The value of hay and oats was small, and one can make them very comfortable through the winter with very little expense. For shelter I have a shed, about 125 feet long and 14 feet wide, which I cover with straw. This gives them protection from the cold winds: yet it is always cool enough to be healthy.” “I intend going in more for sueep this fall, as I believe them to be the most profitable stock on the farm.”

Desire of farmers and ranchers to Increase their sheep holdings is indicated by the sale of 2,500 head recently at $9.00 each. High wool prices and profitable demand for mutton are the reason giver for such a figure. Manitoba sheep breeders arranged last year for the Provincial Department of Agriculture to handle their wool output on a co-operative basis and obtained most satisfactory results. About 75,000 lbs. of wool were handled, netting the shippers over 25c per lb. —Advertisement.