The native cattle, like the horses, are small and wild, but are hardy
and make good rustlers. The native stock has been greatly improved in
recent years by cross breeding with thoroughbred Durham and Hereford
bulls. Grade cattle are better suited for the open range than are pure
bred animals, which are more tender and fare better in fenced pastures.
By cross breeding the quality of range cattle has steadily improved
until the scrub element has been almost bred out.

As a breeding ground Arizona is unsurpassed, but for maturing beef
cattle the northern country is preferable. Thousands of young cattle
are shipped out annually to stock the ranges of Wyoming and Montana and
to fill the feed lots of Kansas, Missouri and other feeding states. A
dash of native blood in range cattle is desirable as it enables them to
endure hardships without injury and find subsistence in seasons of
drought and scant forage.

The general round-up occurs in the fall, just after the summer rains,
when there is plenty of grass and the horses and cattle are in good
condition. The ranchmen of a neighborhood meet at an appointed time
and place and organize for systematic work. A captain is chosen who is
in command of the round-up and must be obeyed. Each cowboy has his own
string of horses, but all of the horses of the round-up not in use are
turned out to graze and herd together. A mess wagon and team of horses
in charge of a driver, who is also the cook, hauls the outfit of pots,
provisions and bedding.

The round-up moves from ranch to ranch rounding up and marking
the cattle as it goes and is out from four to six weeks, according to
the number of ranches that are included in the circuit.

When camp is made and everything ready for work the cowboys ride out in
different directions and drive in all the cattle they can find. After
the cattle are all gathered the calves are branded and the cattle of
the several owners are cut into separate herds and held until the
round-up is finished when they are driven home.

Every unbranded calf is caught and branded in its mother's brand. In a
mix-up of cattle as occurs at a round-up, a calf sometimes gets
separated from its mother so that when caught its identity is
uncertain. To avoid making a mistake the calf is only slightly marked,
just enough to hurt it a little, and is then turned loose. A calf when
it is hurt is very much like a child, in that it cries and wants its
mamma. As quick a