Cattle for Western Ranges. 97 



organs and parts in the whole system of an ox or cow — as 

 necessarily as in a horse — are required to insure a vigor- 

 ous and efficient performance of the full series of animal 

 functions, in detail ; and that the general vigor power, 

 and endurance of constitution in any breed of cattle, is ac- 

 cording to fullness, strength and vigor of their muscular 

 systems or vital growth. 



With these brief remarks on physiological bearings of 

 the subject, let us inquire what character of cattle are best 

 fitted by their actual constitution for use in breeding on the 

 great unsheltered ranges beyond eastern Kansas and the 

 Missouri River, and also in the open rich prairies of 

 northern Missouri, and western Iowa, and to the north- 

 west. 



Overmuch of this vast region, embracing many millions 

 of acres, the bunch-grass starts into growth two or three 

 weeks earlier than finer grasses, that do not afford grazing 

 until several weeks later. But the tussocks of bunch-grass 

 are more or less widely scattered, so that when first turned 

 out to graze in early spring, cattle have in these open 

 countries much more walking and general muscular activi- 

 ty, than is required some weeks later, when the finer, but 

 later grasses grow forth in the spaces between the scatter- 

 ing tussocks of bunch-grass, thus affording more feed while 

 requiring less muscular exertion in gathering it. 



This is different from the thick mass of grasses in well 

 sodded pastures, where the Short-horns or other non-mus- 

 cular cattle flourish, east of the Mississippi ; and the dif- 

 ference demands more exertion, greater activity, and strong- 

 er muscular power to make and endure the increased exer- 

 tion required in grazing on the ranges, in contrast with 

 what is necessary on fine grass, in enclosed pastures. And 

 this extra travel in grazing happens at a time when cattle 

 generally are weaker than at other seasons ; which again 

 indicates the necessity of a permanent fullness of muscle, 



