FIRST HEREFORDS ON THE RANGE 735 



active in the introduction and dissemination of 

 Hereford blood in California than Mr. H. A. Jas- 

 tro of Bakersfield, general superintendent for the 

 Kern County Land Co. Mr. Jastro has maintained 

 since some time in the '80 's a herd of purebred 

 Hereford cows, which now numbers probably 500 

 head and runs on this company's Stockdale range. 

 His aim has been to produce bulls of good quality 

 under natural conditions for use on the extensive 

 Arizona and New Mexico ranches operated by his 

 company. The size of the herd, as well as the pur- 

 pose for which it is maintained, makes it imprac- 

 tical as well as unnecessary to maintain registration 

 for the cattle produced. 



Inasmuch as something like 20,000 calves are 

 branded yearly in connection with the operations of 

 his company, and in view of the long and successful 

 experience of Mr. Jastro with cattle in the south- 

 west his endorsement of the Hereford for range pur- 

 poses must carry weight. He testifies that they are 

 hardier, will travel farther for water and keep in 

 better condition on short feed than Shorthorns or 

 any other breed except the Devons. "In fact," says 

 Mr. Jastro, "it is my judgment that by carefully 

 supplying the range with bulls of the right stamp 

 the Hereford is really the only breed for range pur- 

 poses where water is scarce and feed at certain sea- 

 sons of the year is short. On the other hand, the 

 rancher who has lots of feed and plenty of water 

 will in my judgment find the Shorthorns more profit- 

 able. " 



