LOSSES AMONG AMERICAN CATTLE FROM BRANDING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1975, 5 March 1885, Page 4

LOSSES AMONG AMERICAN CATTLE FROM BRANDING.

Tin: branding of A'uomnn ruige catt'o recivi'il tolerably full consideration .it'hiSt. Li mm Convention, ami .1 Lrgo ivpH-unU-tivu jr.ithciMi,' df farmers duplmvd tho s«rl di'turini.itinii of hiijutt mutilated somcliiiK s with lnlf a tloz-n cruel, deoply-buined hr.iuds m letters und hoirnglyphios, which, o-.)) Hiding' with thu growth of tJic animal, often nioa-airn in tho adult boast I.> to Is inclicH. (J.ittlo v Inch have repeatedly changed hand** arc iimmlly emblazoned with tho uisi'^ni.v of e.ich succis-me owner. Animals arc Bnniotim«3s seen with such nnnccosnaiily ol.iborato brands as 'IIABY,' or 'S Alt Ail.' Texans carry tho breeder's, tho trail, and tho northern buyer's brand. In order that thoy whall be nioro readily hcoii, thexo brands nro lHinvlly |)l:iccd on tho ne.ir Hide, and Hometitnos al.so ro|ientod on tho quartern. Such branding ih declared by the tanners to spoil half the hide, rondering it unfit for cairingo makerH, and other be -ft p.iying piirjxwe.-i. Tliti branded portions nro imperviouH to the tan. remain unpliant nnd hard, or are liddlcd with hole*. Hido-branded liidot>nccordii)^ly sell heavily, at Id i>er lb. tinder tho-»p which nre nor Hide branded ; and as r.m^e hidoH out of salt avorngo 70 to 45 lbs., mdo branding than entailed a loh<i of Us on each beast. HideH branded on the nuartcrri are depreciated from 3* to 4s each. Tho tanner^ recommend branding upon tho neck, on the arm, or low down i>n thn thi«h, where the d'im.igo to tho hida would not take innch from its value. In regions where cattle Htcnling und sophistication of brandi )ia\o baon put down, and where strong cattlt* association* are on tho nleit to detect and puuwh thieves and evil-doors, largo brands on conspicuous situations are not now as necessnry a^ they wcie a few ypnrs since ; and in such countries, without fear of loss, cattleman are di*>p >*cd to adopt the advice of the tanners, nnd without difficulty will inanago to identify their boasts on the ranges, in transit to market, or in the saleyaids, by tho utual car-marking, and with a dis tinctive bmnd on the neck, arm, or lower thigh. On the 5000 range, and Tesan cattle which dining autumn are frequently gatheied in one day in tho Chicago stockyards, this alteration in the situation of the brand u mild reprosont a saving of upwai ds of £1000. The Convention of Tunnci i nUn direct attention to tho datnago d-ine by b.irhe'l iron wiio fencing, stating that whoro these aie ntuncioiH and tho cattle much knocked about, the hides are torn and deteriorated, often to the extent of 50 cents, to a dollar each. In is somewhat difficult to pi event such 10-nee. Whoro there »ie »ettlei»ont«i or patches of gnncial fanning, fencing is obviously a >>me qua mm, and in a piairii country, wlieie timber is seldom plentiful, no fencing is m> c(fectual and economical as tho b.ubcd iron wire. More ciruful, quiet li.uidlin;,' of cittle greatly reduced tho injuiie.i caUMU'I \>y th-'sr wiiu fciiu-r..