Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-11-20
Better Cattle.

better \dttie.
We note an unusual activity among
stockmen throughout the state in the
purchase of pure-bred bulls of their
favorite breed for the improvement OF
their herds. This is proof that an in-
creasing interest is abroad among our
farmers in the improvement of their
cattle. The introduction of better sireS
is the right course to take in order to
reach the better results desired. Many
times the owners of small herds have
felt they could scarcely afford the out
Law for a pure-bred bull for use in a
small herd, however much the more
desirable animals were appreciated.
Realizing that with small farmers this
view of the matter has something in its
support, yet experience has proved that
it is hardly sound in its application.
Good bulls of any of the desirable
breeds, of quality capable OF improv-
ing the offspring of any common herd
of cattle. rightly managed, can be Sc
cured for use at final cost that any
owner can easily bear. Bulls of good
breeding, of any of the desirable breeds,
and of a standard of merit that will
improve the value of any of the COM
mon herds found among farmers. can
be purchased while young at prices
scarcely more than the animal will sell
for after having served his term of use
fulness in the herd. This affords the
service of a superior bull in the herd
for substantially the cost of his keep,
and brings his use easily within the
reach of any farmer desiring to improve
his herd.
In order for an animal to be profitable
to its owner, and therefore valuable, 1t
is by no means necessary that it be pure
bred. High grade animals, for ordinary
farm purposes, are quite as desirable as
if pure-bred. Every farmer knows there
are superior individuals in almost every
grade herd. At the same time, in breed
ing ii the standard Of merit of these
superior individual animals is to be kept
up or improved it is absolutely impera-
tive that pure-b bred SireS be used.
In Judging grade herds at fairs We
have been surprised at the absence of
uniformity among individuals making
up the herd. This seems to apply what
ever breed the foundation of the grade
may be. This all comes from careless,
or what is worse, indifferent breeding.
Grade herds are certainly kept for a
purpose. There can be no good reason
why that use should not be apparent in
the several individuals making up the
herd.
The breeder of grade animals should
have purpose in his breeding.
Whether the foundation be Holstein,
Jersey or Shorthorn, in order for the
breeding to reach a common purpose,
it should be continued along the same
line. Instead of using Holstein sire
one year, and then on that offspring
perhaps a Jersey, the breeding should
be continued ''in line" That is, when
pure bred Holstein sire is used, the re-
sulting grade heifers should be coupled
with another select bull of the same
breed and thus continued through sue
cessive generations. The breeding
would then have purpose, and each
generation would be nearer the object
in view. Three generations bred in this
continuous slime" for all practical pur-
poses will be equal to the pure-bred, and
will be like them in all respects. While
such animals would be grades, according
to the rules of the herd books, the pur-
pose of the breeding would be clearly
manifest and close measure OF uni
formity of appearance would be reached.
There is far too little attention to the
laws of breeding given by the breeders
of grade cattle.-Maine Farmer.