The Extermination of the American BisonHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
History
The Extermination of the American Bison
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
American bison; Wildlife conservation -- United States -- Sources
"They are always in good order, and I consider the meat of the
half-breed much preferable to domestic animals, while the robe is very
fine indeed, the fur being evened up on the hind parts, the same as on
the shoulders. During the history of the herd, accident and other causes
have compelled the slaughtering of one or two, and in these instances
the carcasses have sold for 18 cents per pound; the hides in their
dressed state for $50 to $75 each. A half-breed buffalo ox (four years
old, crossed with buffalo bull and Durham cow) was killed last winter,
and weighed 1,280 pounds dressed beef. One pure buffalo bull now in my
herd weighs fully 2,000 pounds, and a [half]breed bull 1,700 to 1,800
pounds.
"The three-quarter breed is an enormous animal in size, and has an extra
good robe, which will readily bring $40 to $50 in any market where there
is a demand for robes. They are also very prolific, and I consider them
the coming cattle for our range cattle for the Northern climate, while
the half and quarter breeds will be the animals for the more Southern
district. The half and three-quarter breed cows, when really matured,
will weigh from 1,400 to 1,800 pounds.
"I have never crossed them except with a common grade of cows, while I
believe a cross with the Galloways would produce the handsomest robe
ever handled, and make the best range cattle in the world. I have not
had time to give my attention to my herd, more than to let them range on
the prairies at will. By proper care great results can be accomplished."
Hon. C. J. Jones, of Garden City, Kans., whose years of experience with
the buffalo, both as old-time hunter, catcher, and breeder, has earned
for him the sobriquet of "Buffalo Jones," five years ago became deeply
interested in the question of improving range cattle by crossing with
the buffalo. With characteristic Western energy he has pursued the
subject from that time until the present, having made five trips to the
range of the only buffaloes remaining from the great southern herd, and
captured sixty-eight buffalo calves and eleven adult cows with which to
start a herd. In a short article published in the Farmers' Review
(Chicago, August 22, 1888), Mr. Jones gives his views on the value of
the buffalo in cross-breeding as follows:
"In all my meanderings I have not found a place but I could count more
carcasses [of cattle] than living animals. Who has not ridden over some
of the Western railways and counted dead cattle by the thousands? The
great question is, Where can we get a race of cattle that will stand
blizzards, and endure the drifting snow, and will not be driven with the
storms against the railroad fences and pasture fences, there to perish
for the want of nerve to face the northern winds for a few miles, to
where the winter grasses could be had in abundance? Realizing these
facts, both from observation and pocket, we pulled on our 'thinking
cap,' and these points came vividly to our mind:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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