PREFACE 
Tuts 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. 
CorvaLiis, OREGON, 
April 1, 1917. 
