58 Western Live-stock Management 
ago there was much complaint that the range-men were 
trying to buy their bulls too cheaply. Cattle were low 
and feed expensive, and the range-men felt unable to 
pay $150 or $200 for a bull when cattle were at the price 
they were then receiving, and in the meantime the breeder 
of pure-breds was not getting for his stock what it cost to 
raise them; within the last few years, however, since 
beef has been a good price, there is little complaint from 
that source, and the range-men are now willing and able 
to pay good prices for bulls. 
COWS AND CALVES 
The well-known veterinary authority, Fleming, esti- 
mates that the average breeding efficiency of cattle is 
about 78 per cent. By this is meant that with 100 cows 
of breeding age, we should expect 78 calves per annum. 
The carefully managed herd will do somewhat better than 
this, and will sometimes go as high as 85 per cent or 90 
per cent. On the other hand, however, the average herd 
on the open range will not do so well, the average being 
about 60 per cent, although with good care and good 
bulls an average of 65 per cent to 70 per cent is obtainable. 
This percentage largely determines the cost of the calf. 
At the present time a good range calf is worth about $25. 
If the cost of caring for a cow a year is assumed at $15, 
it will be noted that if it is necessary to maintain two 
cows to get one calf, there will be an annual loss of $5 on 
each calf, but if four calves can be raised from five cows 
a good profit will be allowed. There is perhaps no other 
phase of the beef-cattle industry wherein so much im- 
provement can be effected by careful management, with 
the minimum additional investment in the way of capital. 
