EFFECTS OF CROSS-BREEDING 11 



The Buffalo begins to shed its faded and weather-beaten 

 winter coat of hair in March, and during April, May and 

 June it presents a forlorn appearance. The old hair hangs 

 to the body like fluttering rags, and at last, when it finally 

 disappears, the body is almost bare. At this time the flies 

 are very troublesome. By October the new coat is of good 

 length and color, and in November and December it is at its 

 finest. The animal is then warmly clad for the worst storms 

 of winter, and the shaggy head is so well protected that the 

 animal faces all storms instead of drifting before them. A 

 bull Buffalo in perfect pelage is an animal of really majestic 

 presence, and is far more imposing in appearance than many 

 animals of larger bulk but with less hair. 



The calves are born in May and June, and at first are of 

 a brick-red color. This coat is shed in October, except in 

 the case of calves born late in the season. 



The flesh of the Buffalo so closely resembles domestic 

 beef of the same age and quality that it is impossible for any 

 one to distinguish a difference. 



Interesting as have been the experiments made by Mr. 

 C. J. Jones and others in the cross-breeding of Buffaloes and 

 domestic cattle, it is now quite time that all such experiments 

 should cease. It has been proven conclusively that it is im- 

 possible to introduce and maintain a tangible strain of Buffalo 

 blood into the mass of western range cattle. This is admitted 

 with great regret, but, inasmuch as it is absolutely true, the 

 existing herds of Buffalo should not be further vitiated and 

 degraded by the presence in them of animals of impure blood. 



The presence of domestic blood in an adult animal is 



