Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-09
DatIu Kennsbfr 3nurnal.
Reducing Expenses by Careful
Breeding.

The value of our improved breeds OF
stock does not depend upon the size, early
maturity, or the production OF meat. milk,
butter or wool, but rather upon the ca
pacity of the animals tor producing the
largest amount at the least expense. Nor
is it to be denied that an improved animal
! will eat as much as mongre]. In tact
the best farmers are those who feed large
| " and desire animals that will eat all that
NAV be given them. In doing so. howev-
er. they are aware that while the i'm
proved breeds demand plentiful supply
of food they also have greater capacity
for digesting and assimilating the food as
compared withthose not SO well bred. On
the farm all classes of animals are regard
ed as so many machines for practical
work, and the larger the quantity of food
consumed, provided it is being converted
into high priced products that are readily
salable, the greater the profit
Until the farmer understands that his
profits will be slow unless he takes advan-
tage of time he will keep his animals at a
loss. Our best breeders have learned to
calculate that steer or barrow should
gain certain amount every day, and often
order to satisfy n that respect, bat they
do not expect such results from inferior
stock. They base their estimates upon
the kind and quality of the food, the age
of the animal and the conditions OF man
agement. They are aware that the Short
horns, hereford and Scotch Polled cattle
are capable of making certain gain OF
beef daily under favorable conditions, and
that economy is best practiced by their
use, while the skillful dairymen, who aim
to secure the largest yields of milk, use
the Holsteins and Ayshires, having no use
for those animals that have tendency to
convert their food into beef.
II is the knowledge of the characters
tics and merits of the separate breeds that
enables the really skillful farmer to take
advantages which are not monopoized,
but within the province of all. The sup
position that only fancy" farmers avail
themselves of the improved breeds is a
mistaken one. There is nothing fancy"
about it. 1t is matter of business in all
its details. as not only is the farmer en-
abled to increase production with fewer
animals. but the value of the quarters, the
labor and food and factors.
1t is true that with some breeds it re-
quires a large amount of capital for far
mers of moderate means to invest in i'm
proved stock; but fortunately for them
there is always large surplus of males,
through the agency of which but limited
amount of capital and a short period is
required for improvement. An in
vestment IN thoroughbred male is
money that soon brings its return, and
when farmers begin to keep strict
accounts, taking into consideration the
fact that the best animal is the most eco
nomical, they will realize that, while the
best conducted farms may not prove pro-
ftabe when no attention is given the
breed used, but little more outlay is re-
quired for improved animals, while the
results will be more satisfactory. The
rule to apply is to grade up every season.
The first effort will be half-breeds, then
three-ouarters, next seven-eights, land thus
continuing until the portion OF thorough
bred blood is very large, with correspond
ing diminution of that of the native. 1t is
the only safe method for reducing ex-
penses. as the profits will be greater as
the improvement is forwarded. That the
farmers have not fully realized such fact
may be shown by an inspection of the
thousands of inferior animals that are an
nually sent to the markets of our large
cities - hiIndeLDhia Record