PREFACE 



This book is prepared for the use of all who wish to ob- 

 tain a knowledge of the methods and problems of live-stock 

 production in the West. We have tried to give the reader 

 an idea of live-stock conditions as they actually exist and 

 to avoid advocating new or untried systems of breeding 

 or management ; in other words, we have tried to record 

 what the western stockmen are doing rather than to advise 

 what they should do. Methods now in vogue are doubt- 

 less far from perfect, but we believe that all real improve- 

 ment must be based on an accurate knowledge of present 

 practices. We are, therefore, presenting here the infor- 

 mation which experienced stockmen already possess, but 

 which the young man or the beginner often finds slow 

 and expensive to acquire. 



In the absence of a text on this subject, the material 

 here presented was originally prepared for the use of a 

 class in Live-Stock Management at the Oregon Agri- 

 cultural College. It was first published as mimeographed 

 notes, later as printed circulars, and appears in its present 

 form only after many revisions. 



ERMINE L. POTTER. 



CoRVAiiLis, Oregon, 

 April 1, 1917. 



