CATTLE HERDING. 881 



After our return home our losses were confined entirely to 

 those that got down at the watering places, an accident which 

 would occur every few days in spite of our best efforts and most 

 watchful care. When first put on the range, the herd, but es- 

 pecially the cows, wanted to travel all the time hunting for bet- 

 ter grass, and would have tired and worn themselves completely 

 down but for careful herding. 



From the coming of grass my trouble was over. I did not 

 lose a single cow at calving time, and with the exception of one 

 cow, pulled down by the wolves, and a few calves torn to pieces 

 by the same, and one steer that climbed upon a rick of hay and 

 broke his neck in getting down, I met with no more losses. I 

 wish to note some points about this herd to be remembered. I 

 did not loose a steer but the one that broke his neck. Seven 

 bulls out of ten died, while of the cows I lost about three out 

 of five, and these included every old cow in the herd ; also the 

 ones that had calves running with them during the previous 

 summer. The cows heavy with young seemed to endure the cold 

 just as well as those not so forward, and without a single excep- 

 tion dropped their calves without the least trouble and all did 

 well, while the calves were wonderfully hardy. Some were born 

 on days intensely cold, but in every case got up and lived. One 

 calf, I remember in particular, was born on a hill-top with the 

 mercury at ten degrees below zero, and a stiff wind blowing, 

 deserted by its mother for food and water, but to our astonish- 

 ment, came bawling to the herd the next day, was owned by its 

 mother, and lived and thrived. 



As I think over that long, hard winter of toil and exposure, 

 and its results, I now see that if I had bought only steers I 

 would have made a success; or had one thousand dollars less 

 been invested in cattle, a shed built, a well sunk, provided 

 with pump and troughs for watering, I would still have been 

 successful with a mixed herd. I have never seen a herd thrive 

 and fatten as that remnant did, nnd on sale d;iy they brought 

 quite a little sum as a premium above the market price of the 

 day. Had I the same herd to winter again, I should expect to 

 take through not less than ninety-five out of every hundred. 



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