The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-08
INSPECTION OF THE PROS.
PECTlvE HERD BOAR.

A prominent North Dakota swine
breeder recently made this pertinent
statement: Il will never buy another
herd header unless see him, recent
ly bought pig from one of the most
prominent and reliable eastern breed
ers, and described very carefully
what kind OF a hog wanted. further
told him that price was no object, and
did not even inquire what his prices
were, but did insist that l wanted
the best pig he would sell. He sent
ME good pig and charged ME $50 for
him. Theh pig is worth the money. but
not to me as he is not what want.
being weak where I wanted him strong
and he Is not likely to I've much of
corrector In my herd. ! would cheer
fully have paid three or even more
times what ! did. ii he was what l
wanted"
And there was no denying that the
breeder was correct in his statements.
We know the reputation of the seller
in this case and do not believe that he
intended to impose on the buyer. Ii
he did. he would have charged more
money. One of two things is true
Either his Judgment as to what consti-
tutes the ideal of the breed he is han
ding is faulty. or else he underesti-
mates the knowledge and requirements
OF Dakota breeders. thinking perhaps
that the buyer did not know what he
wanted and that something pretty
good at not high price" was what
was wanted. Probably the latter. In
either case. he has done himself an
injury that he cannot repair. and has
lost one good customer, and likely
many more. And right here is where
many eastern breeders make a mis-
take. Our experience teaches lis that
d kota buyers discriminate as closely
as do eastern people, and further. that
they are fully as competent to Judge
of quality. If the people to the east
of us expect to build up business
here and hold it. it behooves them to
take note of this fact and to see to it
that what stock they send here on mail
orders is as good. Or a little better,
for given amount of money, than
what they would expect to sell at
home. And especially in cases like
this. where the hog was to head
nnre-bred herd. and where the kind
Of a hog wanted was carefully de-
scribed, no limit set on price. and
where 1t was stipulated that the best
in the herd was none too good
The buyer in this case is not to be
commisserated with, for If the pig con-
tfnues to develop he will be we'll worth
the money-perhaps more-and there
are some sows in the herd with which
he can be mated and good results rea-
sonably be expected. He says further
that the lesson is worth what it cost
him. This is cheerful view to take
of it. but the chances are that the dis
appointment is keen, nevertheless.
But there is an important lesson in
this and similar transactions for all.
The buying of sire to head pure
bred herd is perhaps the most import
ant duty that falls on the breeder,
though many treat it quite lightly.
Upon the individuality and the breed
ing quality of the herd header depends
very largely the material welfare of
the breeder, and the selection of one
should enlist the best there is in the
BREEDER. While it is a wise policy
never to waste dollar. it is very I'M
wise to scrimp on an individual that
is to be half of the herd and upon
whom may depend the breeders fu-
ture. There are many instances where
one sire has made the reputation and
the fortune as we'll of a man. and
there are many more cases-though
we do not hear of thenl-where a sire
has been positive detriment in
herd even to the extent of eventually
driving the breeder out of business
In many cases those of the latter class
could trace their downfall, IL they
would, to buying herd header within
out inspection, and then hanging to
him after he was received 1t costs
money to select worthy herd header,
for they are not as numerous as is
generally supposed, and when one is
secured that is worthy his place,
proper valuation should be set upon
him and he should be allowed to die in
the herd.
From the nature of the case. there
always will be more or less of the
mail order business, and this to the
advantage of both buyer and breeder.
However. it will always be the cause
of more or less dissatisfaction. be-
cause what is one mans judgment of
an animal may not be anOther's. This
is often the case. though when the
buyer is as careful to describe what is
wanted as was the one alluded to above
and when there is no restriction in
price, the chances for misunderstood
ing are minimized, or ought to be.
When there is already worthy sire
at the head of the herd, though another
is wanted and the buyer can afford to
experiment, buying boar pigs by mail
is not SO hazardous. because the new
conner can be tried for year with
a few sows and then be kept or dis
carded, as the results would indicate
as being best. But when a first class
sire is needed that is to go Immediately
to the head of good herd. it is good
policy for the breeder to pick him
after personal inspection.
Buying females insight and I'M
seen" is another matter. for an un-
worthy sow affects the herd only as
far as one litter is concerned. and can
thus do very little harm, If she does
not do pood