Identifier: albertasurveyoft00mcca (find matches)
Title: Alberta : a survey of the topography, climate, resources, industries, transportation and communication, and institutional services of the Province of Alberta
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: McCaig, J Alberta. Dept. of Agriculture
Subjects: Agriculture
Publisher: Edmonton, Alta. : Issued under the direction of Minister of Agriculture
Contributing Library: ASC - York University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Ontario Council of University Libraries and Member Libraries

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er. While the first ranchers were Americans, mostof the stockmen at a later time were Old Country men and Can-adians. These were men of some experience and were accustomedto good stock. Good herds of cattle and horses were establishedin the Lethbridge, Macleod, Pincher Creek, High River, Calgary,Bow River and Red Deer districts. Early in the eighties sheepwere also introduced though the sheep interests did not growinto great volume rapidly. The system followed with live stock in Southern Albertawas one of outdoor feeding throughout the year. This was possibleby reason of the nature of the grasses and character of the climate.The low vegetation of the prairies consisted principally of buffalograss, bunch grass and blue joint which reached maturity earlyin the summer. The quality of climate which now gives usthe good wheat, in the old days gave the cattleman his winterfeed cured on the stem by the harvest Chinook. This forage prac-tically remains oily and valuable until cut or eaten. 21
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^^ 22 The Chinook likewise made it possible for cattle, horses andsheep to graze outside throughout the year. At that time the grasseswere abundant and the tax on pasture slight. The coulees and brushyriver bottoms furnished natural shelter and long feed when the benchlands were deeply covered with snow. The system of all-the-year-round grazing was necessarily attended with some losses, but as therancher had no capital investment in land on which dividends hadto be paid and had ver)^ little equipment, he could stand somereduction of his productive stock by losses. This system becamegradually modified by competition for range, and stockmen had toput up hay to carry their stock over short periods of hard weatherand so reduce their percentage of losses. Those who areunacquainted with this system of work find it hard to understandhow good stock can be produced by this system. The naturalgrass of the province, however, seems to be a complete and nutritiousration which develops large frames

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