74 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



their stock ; but they struggle on manfully, under 

 the goad of misfortune, obtaining additional credit, 

 possibly from the bank (at 10 per cent, interest) to 

 tide them over until better times and another year 

 brings its calves (an asset) and beasts ready for 

 beef. Two mild winters following this adversity 

 would put them on their feet again, with a very 

 fair balance to their credit, the whole of which 

 would be at once invested in more cattle, and 

 perhaps some horses. 



In the following attempted estimate we will allow 

 for a 10 per cent, loss of calves each spring, and for 

 50 per cent, of the cows calving. This is on a 

 liberal basis. We will " put out " a bunch of fifty 

 she-stock, as being well within the means of most 

 men starting up to raise cattle. A commencement 

 could, of course, be made with two-year-old animals, 

 if desired, but this is not to be recommended, 

 owing to the proportionately larger outlay neces- 

 sitated at the outset ; and, as before pointed out, 

 three-year-olds could not be bought except at beef 

 prices, so they are quite out of the question. 



First Year. 

 One-year-old heifers, born the previous spring . . 50 



Second Year. 

 Original heifers . . . . . . . . 50 



