The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-08-20
n - & = 20. 7t91{ z
a Rance Rider on the Calf Crop.

Having been over a great; deal OF sfha
COW country of southern Colorado Ia fhes 1
saddle. this spring and summer, and.
having had similar trips for the last
twenty-five years in Colorado in connec-
tion with the livestock interests Of the
country, ] can notice big difference In
the, cattle breeding interests to what
there was ten Or fifteen years ago, and
even five years ago. / hive seen in diff
ferent papers reports Of the big cali! crop,
whereas my obseryation,id the; different
round-ups and the different ranges /
have been over, and the counts I haye,
made Of CALVES and Of COWS that were In.
calf and those that ought to have calves,
or be in cali, I say, Mr.. Editor, that the:
calf crop is sadly short Of what it should
be and what it would be il the proper
efforts were put forth by the owners and
stock associations to remedy the causes
responsible for this deficiency. The
stock associations put me In mind Of the
old time peace commissioners that nseii'
to be sent out here to treat with the
Indians. They would get the Indians
together and have a big talk; and that.
ended the matter. The same IS true
with the associations; they know there
is deficiency, they know why they talk
the matter over and perhaps they think
will 60 right to work and remedy the
evil, but they part and cool of. and time
flies on, and before they realize it an
other year is gone and the same old CON-
plant is more visible at the round-ups.
The COW business as managed to-day is
on the wane. The profits are less and
the efforts put forth are less than they
were years ago.. One will see very few
owners now with the rounl-ups, where
as years ago, the round-ups were COM
posed principally Of owners. They have
dropped into the habit of sending out,
hired men and us few of them rs possi-
BILE. They gather up a bunch Of cattle
and drive them half a day; the calyes3
all get back to the back end of the herd
and seem thick and plenty, when if they;
would count the COWS and heifeIs that
comprise the bunch they would see those:
that had calves. those that were in calf
and those that ought to have Of be in
calf; then the deficiency would be appar-.
ent, and would greatly modify the report
of the calf crop. It is astonishing,
really, tho money that is being lost an
nually in Colorado in this one item OF
calves that are actually bred and what
should be and might be bred If the prog
er efforts were put forth and the atten.
ton and appliances given to the busi-
ness that should be-. Men win keep, nm,
Office in town and be there from early
morn till late at night, knowing that to
spend their time punching billiards will
not pan out well in the fall, and put
these same men into the COW business
and they will seldom ever be seen in the
saddle, and most Of them will run the
COW business on the plan the old woman
did her hennery. Her theory was that
the hens had to lay eggs any way and
couldn't help themselves, hut when she
came to set eggs to raise broilers, sl.s
found herself left. Now I expect Il this
is published it viii raise the lie OF some;
but pitch in, men, this thing needs stir.
ring up. It took tho shock of an earth
quake to arouse old Rip Van Winkle; Iii,
breeders OF cattle aist asleep to theil
interests, and lit mas. to be an earth
quake, let her come. I am ready. ICor
Colorado Liye-S Stock Review. 5.