The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1916-12-08
HOW TO BUILD UP
AG0OD FARM HERD
Live Stock Is Farmers Opportunity,
Says j. n. Mcleod, of Extern
sion Division.

IL should De Ine ueSlTe VI every al
kansas farmer interested in livestock
to build up at least good small farm
herd. Whether this desire eliminates
in the production OF high grades for
market purposes or develops into the
breeding of pure breds for high quail
ity of trade, the method of procedure
is practically the same.
Sire Is Half the Herd.
The first thing that the prospective
breeders should firmly fix in his MIND
is that the "sire is half t1e herd 1t
does not matter how good the females
are, unless the sire is a good lndl-
vidual, capable of stamping his char
acteristics upon his offspring, prog
ress in the improvement cannot be ex-
pected. Therefore, those expecting to
60 into the business OF breeding hogs
or cattle should pay particular atten-
ton to the selection of the head OF
the herd. A sire, among other things,
should have strong constitution, that
is, a deep chest development, with
large heart girth. An animal without
this will not usually stand the strain
of the amount OF breeding usually ex-
pected of him nor will he sire as ro-
bust animals or as active grazers and
good feeders as the sire which is
strong in constitution. Other points
that should command attention are
good broad backs, strong loin, deep
sides and well developed hindquarters
Watch FOR Characteristics of
Proficiency.
With this development there should
be the characteristics of prepotency,
that is the power Of transmitting de-
desirable qualities to the offspring
This power is denoted by well crest
ed neck with a strong male appear
ance in the head and good constitu-
ton. Herds OF hogs as well as cattle
are often ruined by failing to pay at
tention to these points. The practice
of breeding females that have the
characteristics of males will have
tendency to produce smaller animals
that are not as good breeders as those
that have been more wisely selected.
II the sire is "half the herd" it on
Iy stands to reason that the females
constitute the other half. Thus the
selection of this part of the herd has
an important bearing upon the sue
cess of the prospective breeder. Inc
same things that have been pointed
out in the selection of the male ap-
plies to the female, with the exception
that the female should show female
characteristics just as strongly as the
male should show male character
istics.
Select For Uniformity OF Type.
Uniformity of type in the females is
another thing that needs consiuera-
ton. The appearance of a herd in
this respect always makes a strong
impression upon the prospective
buyer whether the would be buyer is
selecting feeoer or breeding animals.
The man who has developed a herd
recognized for it's uniformity will have
a greater demand for his stock at bet
ter prices than the breeder who has
not given the matter of uniformity
due consideration The prospective
breeder will find it fairly easy job
to pick a uniform herd if he is going
into the pure bred business, but where
starting with Arkansas grades or
scrubs he will find it more difficult
proposition to secure the type desired
He should, however, endeavor to Sc
cure his females with as uniform type
and color as possible.
eliminate Inferior individuals in the
Herd.
Another point upon which the sue
cess or failure o. the prospective
breeder depends is the elimination of
inferior individuals in the herd. Mis-
takes in the livestock business have
often been made by beginners in sell
ing off the best female offspring OF
the herd This mistake is naturally
encouraged by the more attractive
prices offered for the better animals,
buC it only stands to reason that if a
practice is made of disposing of the
better females no improvement can
be made, or at least it will be very
slow, while on the other hand if a
practice is made of selling off the
poorest females in the herd and keep
ing the best time will come when
the breeders poorest animals will be
much superior, perhaps, to the best
animals owned by neighbor breeder
who has not followed systematic Sc
lection in his herd
Begin In the Livestock Business Ac.
cording to Means and Experience.
The sanest and safest way for the
inexperienced man with limited means
to start in the livestock business is TO
start on a small scale. Some of the
best livestock men in the country to
day are men who have begun the bus
mess in small way.
In 1883 a certain farmer in Texas
started in the pure-bred cattle bust
ness with one COW and bull. Today
the registration books show that this
same farmer has registered over SOC
animals, descendants of this one COW
| This mans success is attributed to
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