Beef Producers of the West 45 



they are actually past twenty-four months. Late calves, 

 that is, those born in the summer, are classed with those 

 dropped that spring, but their late birth is indicated by 

 calling them "late" calves or "short" two-year-olds or 

 "short" three-year-olds as the case may be. A "short" 

 two is not necessarily less than two years old, but is an 

 animal born late in the season, that is, well along into the 

 summer, while a "long" two is not necessarily more 

 than two years old, but is a calf born very early, actually 

 in the late fall or in the winter. 



The Hereford and the Shorthorn are the most common 

 breeds and practically all of the cattle of the West carry 

 a considerable percentage of the blood of one or both of 

 these breeds. A few Angus and Galloway bulls are 

 used, but not many. Generally speaking, the beef cattle 

 of the West are well bred, although there is still some 

 evidence of unimproved blood and in many places dairy 

 blood has been allowed to creep in. In Arizona, New 

 Mexico, and all the region east of the Rockies, the Here- 

 ford is by far the popular breed. In the other western 

 states, however, the Shorthorn is very strong and in 

 California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho is fully able.to 

 hold its own with the Hereford. In a general way the 

 quality of western cattle improves as one goes north from 

 Mexico to Canada. Feed conditions also improve going 

 north and some of the better quality of cattle may be due 

 to better feed, but some of it must be attributed to better 

 breeding. In the past few years, since cattle have been 

 sufficiently high priced to justify the expense, the range- 

 men have been using many very high-class pure-bred 

 bulls, costing from $100 to $250 for bulls old enough for 

 service. In some states, as Oregon and Idaho, laws have 

 been passed prohibiting anyone from turning on the public 



