TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



111 



horn." So many purebred beef bulls have been taken to the 

 ranges, however, that today the long-horned Texan is rarely 

 seen. Western cattle now carry a high percentage of the blood 

 of the improved beef breeds, and the heads are either naturally 

 polled or have short or medium-length horns. Many prize- 

 winning bulls have been bought by western cattlemen and 

 turned loose upon the range, and today range cattle usually 

 have the low-set, blocky form and flesh-making qualities of their 

 sires. There were no cattle in America prior to its discovery; 

 the old-fashioned Texas and western cattle undoubtedly sprang 

 from animals which escaped from the hands of early Spanish 

 explorers or were left behind when they were forced to make a 

 retreat. 



The best western cattle are used for the same purposes as 



Fig. 26. Prime Baby Beeves. 



These are representatives of the famous "blue-grays" so popular in the 

 British markets. They were sired by a Shorthorn bull, and their dams were 

 Galloway cows. 



the best native cattle, but being largely grass-fed, they are 

 more subject to shrink during shipping. All Texas and western 

 range cattle are branded, and are sometimes spoken of as "branded 

 cattle." As a rule, branded cattle sell at a discount because of 

 the damage to the hide. In cases of brands on the body, the 

 damage to the hide is estimated anywhere from five to fifteen 

 cents per cwt., according to size and location, and in extreme 

 cases where there is a big, sprawling side brand, covering a large 

 part of the surface, the discount will be very much higher, as 

 it practically spoils half the hide. 



The range country furnishes grass from the middle of July 

 until the middle of November, and cattle coming to market 



