The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-27
r; Improve Live Stock.

TO Improve Live Stock.
The day when the majority Of farmers be-
lieve that the improved breeds were no better
than native stock, has long since gone Dy. we
do not now find intelligent men who are ready
to argue that the pure Short-horns are no I'M
proyement ON the native cattle, or that the
Essex is no better than the old-fashioned hog.
Careful breeding has wrought wonderful i'm
movement with all classes of domestic animals,
and the progress which has been made Is now
yery GENERALLY recognized and applauded
Still, thoroughbred stock has not been very
extensively introduced Go into any farming
community, and the men who have full-blood,
ed stock of any kind are the exception, and {,
not the rule. But high grades are not at all
uncommon. More or less of the blood OF I'M
proved breeds is in the veins of nearly all farm
stock, except where old prejudices root deeply
and are very hard to remove. u,
As the case now stands, both the thorough
breds and natives are comparatively scarce
while the country is full of grades of various
degrees of merit As general rule those sec,
tions which are best supplied with blooded
stock, or the high grades, are the ones IN when
the various departments OF live STOCK business
are the most profitable. There may be excep-
tions, but we always expect the dairy business
to pay the best where the best COWS are KepI'
Sheep husbandry does not pay well when only
inferior animals are kept and the pork. pusl-
ness paws the best when the best breeds OF nogs
ara crown. The better the stock the greater
the profit.
Tie inquiry then arises why thoroughbred
stock has not been more extensively dissemln-
ated. One reason may be found in the fact
that farmers, and many dairymen, DO not real
tO @ stock
have the thoroughbreds are. And many of the
| grades which are kept in good locations are
very meritorious animals. They have SO much
! of the improved blood, and are so productive,
that the owners are very well satisfied with
them, and have little desire to change. But
the main reason is to be found in the immense
cost of blooded stock. The ordinary farmer
may be fully convinced that thoroughbreds are
yery much better than the stock which he has,
and wish that he were able to change for the
improved breeds; but he is met at once by the
insuperable objection that he has not the means
with which to do it. He cannot pay from TWO
to five hundred dollars each tor COWS, twenty
to one hundred dollars apiece for sheep, or ten
dollars each for sucking pigs. he cannot pay
the market prices. But if the farmer Will take
time, have patience, and use proper care, ne
can, with no great outlay. greatly improve ms
farm stock. If he cannot have thoroughbreds,
let him do the next best thing, and get just as
market. Occasionally first class animals are
for sale very low. The owner has surplus
stock, or does not want to breed in-and-in too
much, and buyers not being plenty he will put
in prices low. 1t also frequently happens that
stock which is very good, almost full.bloodetd,
can be bought at reasonable figures. The only
proper way to improve stock without breeding
pure is to cross full-blooded males upon the
best common cows If dairying is the business
which is to be carried on, two or more really
good COWS, we'll formed, hardy, and in perfect
| health, should be obtained. They should be
selected with reference to the particular depart
ment of the business which is to receive atten-
ton. If nice butter is wanted, the Jerseys; II
milk is to be sold, the Ayrshires while II but
ter, milk, veal, and beef are each and all de-
manded, the Short-horns vii! answer the pur,,
pose we'll. These COWS should be we'll fed, and
receive careful attention. If there IS no op,,
portunity to hire one, good thoroughbred
bull should be obtained. Having good COWS
and pure-bre bull, the calves ought to be
fine, and the heifers should be raised: Al
though not absolutely certain, yet it Is highly
probable that they will inherit the good quail
ties of both parents, and with the sole excep-
IlOu VI uIeSuluS purposes, ~ '..No' W
equal to thoroughbred stock. If any OF the
heifers should not prove to be good mixers
they should be turned into beet, and other
trials made. By following this course tor
few years, keeping only the best and breeding
from them, splendid lot of COWS can be o6
tanned. Or if a little more can be invested
the result can be somewhat improved and con-
siderable timed saved. BY buying one or two
thoroughbred COWS, and breeding from them in:
stead of from grades, herd of pure-blooded
animals can soon be obtained. The same
principle applies to the other classes of animals
as well as to cows. When hogs are wanted
two or three thoroughbred pigs are enough to
start with, if the owner will take time, and use
care and skill With sheep, the case IS equally
simple. Two or three first rate ones, with
which to commence, and with proper care the
owner will have fine flock in few years
Of course it is not claimed that this is better
way than to buy thoroughbred stock, if man
has the means with which to do it, But the
hints thrown out may be useful to some farm
ers whose means ars quite limited, yet who are
very anxious to improve their stock. Rightly
managed, the stock department is one OF the
most profitable in the whole line of the farm
er's business; but to insure success, good stock
is an absolute necessity.-Live Stock Journal
!