The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-27
Paper by e. C. Sage at the farmers Institute.

Were one to treat upon the thoroug-
bred as defined by the scientist he
would be compelled to confine himself
to the running bred horse alone, but as
am talking today to an audience COM
posed chiefly of Crawford county farm
ers and as l understand the mission of
this institute is to entertain and in
struct them, shall not only talk horse
but will include all classes of farm
stock and you will pardon me if most
of this paper covers cattle breeding and
rearing, and in fact am of the opinion
that it was intended by your committee
thatI should do SO not alone because
of their selecting me to prepare the
paper but by the selection OF the gen
tlemen who follow first in the discus
sion, for what would one expect to hear
in discussing farm topics from w. a.
McHenry and Mr.. Durham if not
cattle.
THE thoroughbred or rather pure
bred animal as recognized today by all
up-todate farmers as we'll as all agri-
cultural writer's and papers, is stock of
any class or breed whose sire and dam
trace back to imported animals that
were recorded in their recognized re-
spective herd books in foreign coun-
tries. There are few exceptions to
this rule as, Poland China Hogs, they
being an American production; also
POlled Durham cattle, and as 1 under
stand, some. of the draft breeds of
horses have.no authorized books of rec.
ord in Europe. And now while speak
ing of records, recording and recorded
animals it may be we'll to give that sub
ject little thought. am aware that
many people-and especially those who
least understand i.-view the records
and recorded animals as of little if any
consequence or special value, many
otherwise good and intelligent farmers
even scout the idea. No practical, sue
cessful breeder claims that the record
ing of an animal makes it any better,
individually, and in fact all breeders
admit that many animals that are
recorded are no better individuals than
many grades and scrubs But we do
claim that the fact that an animal is
recorded is evidence that it emaneted
from stock that has for a long period of
years been bred for special purpose,
and while by poor care and feeding and
iDjudiciOusly mating. a scrub in all its
contours can be produced, we still
maintain that if we would improve the
stock of country it can only be done
by using recorded animals.
To Illustrate: How do you suppose
McHenry's herd would look in ten
years from today il he were to begin
using sire that he buys because the
animal looks like his cattle. Are there
not many grade cattle that if we'll fed
look almost like McHenry's. Black,
no horns, low down and blocky, possibly
only oue-half blood, sired by pure
bred bull but whose dam was the old.
brindle COW. How long after McHenry
has used this half blood before some of
the calves at McHenry Park will begin
to look like the old brindle COW. Just
one cross and the experienced eye will
detect it, two crosses and most farmers
can see it, three crosses and the blind
can see and the dumb exclaim, INC
haint got as good cattle as he had ten
years ago" Now wh,? Tue bulls he
had been bus ing looked all right and
the seller said they were eligible to
record. OH! dear, Eligible to record!
Their why no. record them? Let me
say right here, don't ever buy an ami
NAL that is eIig BIZ to record because
you will every time pay for something
you haven't bought. However, they
toll :'Il-'t' '',- bill . eligible to
3g T he old