Cass County, Missouri - Chapter 26: Stock Raising, 1917

In early days the county comprised an extensive range of natural grasses. It was quite natural stock raising should early become an im¬ portant industry. The cattle then raised were largely fattened on the range. There was little market for the corn then raised, and this, too, went into the cattle and hogs. With the advent of railroads the industry of stock raising grew rapidly. The county has always been a large pro¬ ducer of cattle, horses, mules, hogs and sheep. As the saying goes the thrifty farmer prefers to "put his grain and pasture into stock and drive it to market" in preference to selling grain on an uncertain and radically fluctuating market. The improvement in the quality of all these classes of stock is quite apparent.

Hog raising is carried on in conjunction with cattle raising and the two are money makers on the farm. Sheep in small flocks are found throughout the county, with constantly increasing numbers, quality and profitableness. The raising of horses and mules is another important industry. This is done, not as an industry by itself, but with other classes of farming. Practically every farmer raises a few horses and mules, which brings him ready money each year. Of late the wars of Europe have furnished a lucrative market for horses and mules and even cattle, hogs and sheep.

The blessings of our climate are again shown in the production of live stock. Missouri mules and horses are in demand the world over. Between the severe cold of the North and the extreme heat of the South, we escape the blistering suns of the South lowlands and escape the dis¬ eases common thereto. We also miss the long and expensive feeding of the northern climates. Our summers are never so hot, nor winters so cold that extra feed and expensive shelters are required for protection. The larger part of our cattle are practically without shelter.

For raising live stock there must not only be a favorable climate, a fertile soil and an intelligent people, and we have all of these, but must have available markets and ready transportation. This we have. Cass County live stock has always stood high in the fairs and stock shows and rank among the first of the State, and the State is first in the Union. Missouri's profits from live stock mounts up into the hundreds of thou¬ sands of dollars annually.

Year by year the intelligent, thrifty farmer of Cass is improving the grade of his stock, and thereby its marketable value. While our horses and cattle are money makers for the raiser, the hog and sheep are also a valuable adjunct to the stock raiser. In the county are found the high breeds of Shorthorn, Hereford, Aberdeen, Angus, Galloway, Jersey, Holstein, Devon and Guernsey, as well as other breeds.

Among the horses are the American saddle horse, standard bred trotter, Percheron, Belgian, Clydesdale, German coach, French coach, and other stocks highly bred. One of the fastest trotters in the United States was bred and foaled in this county. This was the property of the late James N. Haddock who, when his horse lived out its usefulness and died, built a monument at the horse's grave on the present Miller farm, at one time owned by Mr. Haddock, a few miles west of Harrisonville.

While our sheep raising hasn't been taken up as readily as in other counties what we raise is of a high grade. We find here the Shropshire, Hampshire, Southdown, Merino, and other varieties bred up as high as found anywhere. We also have the well bred goat. "Billy" is always a favorite where he goes and seeks homely pleasures as he goes.

It was a Missouri horse which won the first prize as a riding horse at the Chicago World's Fair. Other stock, cattle, mules, hogs and sheep from Missouri have been prize winners at all the fairs, far and near. They have the admiration and praise of stock lovers and stock judges at all times. It has been a frequent occurrence for Missouri horses and jacks to bring on the market more than $5,000 apiece. They are taken in all directions for breeding purposes. The saddle horse association, in preparing a map of the counties of the State engaged in saddle horse breeding, puts Cass County in the forefront. A good class, good trotters, good breeders, and great draft animals.

The State has won fame for her flocks and herds. Her people are by nature and training lovers of good stock. The county is located ad¬ mirably for all lines of stock growing. May she continue to take advan¬ tage of every method to still further improve the stock in all lines. It makes for personal profit and community pride.