586 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



bolls on the haciendos. The cows are much superior to the bulls, and 

 those crossed with Shorthorns, Herefords, &c., make very desirable ani- 

 mals. The most marked improvement occurs in the first cross. 



The nature of the climate (Chihuahua being within what is termed 

 the " summer rain belt") demands a class of cattle that will travel a 

 long ways to water, "when necessary eat the grass as they can ilnd it, 

 as no other food is ever prepared for them. Such a thing as a hay- 

 stack or straw-rick I have never seen in the State. 



No shelter is ever prepared for them except to probably plant some 

 cottonwood along the ditches and streams of the farms. la many in- 

 stances nature provides this shade. 



The climate is dry from October 15 until the following June, when 

 the rainy season sets in. During July, August, and September the 

 vegetation grows very rapidly, and the plains soon become covered with 

 a rich growth of fine grass of the beech, buffalo, and gramas kinds. 



The cows are fine breeders, but I consider this more on account of 

 climate than of breed. 



Chihuahua is a table-land sloping east from the foot-hills of the Sierra 

 Madre Eange (where the plains are about 6,500 feet above the sea) to 

 plains and valleys divided by small ranges of mountains from 4,000 to 

 5,000 feet elevation. 



These cattle, when driven to Colorado and Kansas, fatten on the nu- 

 tritious grasses of those States very rapidly, and make good meat for 

 market. 



The cows kept for dairy purposes are few indeed. They are poor 

 milkers, not averaging more than a half gallon a day, and are only 

 milked once in twenty-four hours. 



But little butter and cheese are made. Butter is worth 62J cents per 

 pound, and a very ordinary article of cheese 15 cents per pound. Butter 

 pays a Federal duty of 24J cents a kilogram and cheese 14J cents a kilo- 

 gram, and in addition to this they both pay a State and city duty. 



The State of Chihuahua (86,000 square miles) contains about two hun- 

 dred and fifty thousand head of cattle and not a fence, except around 

 some planted grounds. About twice a year each hacienda gathers its 

 cattle, which they term a " Rodeo." To these rodeos the neighboring 

 farmers are invited, and when the cattle are all in a bunch each set of 

 men select the stock of their respective farms and drive them home. 



The climate is afl that could be desired for a stock country. It sel- 

 dom snows and is free from the cold north wind, termed li Northers " in 

 Texas. 



The percentage of calves is large and would bo larger if they paid 

 more attention to the bulls, and killed off the old ones, which are only 

 in the way of service of their more vigorous juniors. 



If some attention were given to proper food for the cattle during hard 

 seasons ; if hay were cut and stacked convenient to water, well-bred 

 grass-raised bulls from Texas introduced, &c., there would be a marked 

 difference in the cattle. 



Sufficient crossing has been done to show the great benefits which 

 will result from systematic cross-breeding. 



The Polled Angus has not been tried in this State as yet. Their 

 color is against them in a clear climate where the sun's ravs are so 

 hot. 



There have been some small herds driven out of the State into New 

 Mexico and Arizona, principally for breeding purposes, which I am told 

 have done well. They go out via El Paso, Tex. 



