The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-29
SELECT HEAD or HERD
WITH GREAT CARE.
Purity Of Blood Very Desirable. But
Not An Absolute Guaranty Of
Excellence

No enough attention Is given 10 the
| selection OF the head or the herd.
whether It be a herd OF cattle. hogs or
other farm animals The fac; that the
character or the next generation Ot
live stock. and, soon. that OF the er.
tire breeding herd. WILL be determined
by the sire that is being used, should
be kept constan ny IN mind. The sire
eHerts an influence on he herd equal
TO that OF all the females combined.
and for this reason, much more care
and study must be given 70 both his
Individual makeup and ancestry than
is necessary in case OF any female
member OF the herd
The pedigree OF the male must be
stuoied. not so much for the purpose
OF hnding therein the names OF IA
nous ancestors which have been
show animals. as to form an estimate
as to the probabilities Of the male in
question being able TO transmit the
essential qualities OF utility The i'm
mediate parents exert by far the great
est influence on the makeup and
breeding qualities OF an individual. II
either parent is not strong and vigor-
Gus. or IL each OF these parents have
not already produced other anirlals OF
exceptional merit, it is not considered
good business 10 pay a very large PRICE
for one OF their offspring. Unless the
parents have proved their ability to
produce excellence in q large NUMBER
OF their offspring the chances are that
the animal in question will prove a
great disappointment All OF the
grandparents combined exert an influ-
ence about equal to one immediate |
parent and that should be taken into
account. The influence OF any given |
ancestor back OF the grandparents is
so sman as 70 Sc practically a negli !
gible quantity
After care has been exercised IN the |
selection OF the sire, both for indi |
vidual excellence and good ancestry.
the real trial comes when the actual |
breeding qualities Of the male are |
tested out by mating him to a few fe.
males which have proved their merit |
az breeders. II his offspring with |
these females fail to show exceptional |
merit, then he should be discarded at |
once and another young male tried out /
In the same way until a satisfactory
ono Is found. Successful breeders are
always trying out young males for the
purpose OF having something reliable |
In reserve. The failure to take this
precautIon has been the undOing OF
more than one In four OF the most
promising offspring OF exceptional
parents. backed up by the best Of an.
cestry, ever really added anything TO
the excellence OF the breed The Sc
lection. then, by pedigree and individ.
uality. simply increases the chances
OF getting 4 satisfactory herd sire 10
about one IN four. The wise and sue.
cessful breeder is not willing to take
this risk. but prepares beforehand IN
til he is absolutely sure OF his ground.
Not so much attention need be paid
20 the selection OF the herd sire in
case where the stock is kept for util.
ity alone, as in case OF a man raising
hogs for market, but in this case also
It is OF hrst importance that the hero
are comes OF good parents and that
he Is strong and vigorous in every
way. Purity OF blood is no absolu,e
guaranty OF excellence. The chances
are that the pure-bred sire will be
nble 10 transmit the desired qualities
with much more certainty than IN
case OF the animal with a mixed an
cestry. but vitality and prolifcacy
are the all-important and far-reaching
factors TO be considered.
E. L. Jordan,
Louisiana State University.