New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-08-05
SELECT HEAD OF HERD
WITH GREAT CARE.
Purity OF Blood Very Desirable. eut
Not An Absolute Guaranty Of
Excellence.

Not enough attention IL given to the
selection of the head OF the herd
whether It be a herd of cattle, hogs o,
other farm animals the fact that inc
character of the next generation OF
i've etocN, and. soon. that OF the en-.
tire breeding herd. will be determined
by the sire that is being used, should
be kept constantly in mind The s,re
exerts an influence on the herd equal
to that OF all the females combined
and for this reason much more care
and study must be given to both his
individual makeup and ancestry than
is necessary in case Of any female
member OF the herd.
| The pedigree VI the male must be
stuL.ed. not so much for the purpose
Of finding therein the names of IA
nous ancestors which have been
show animals. as TO form an estimate
! AZ 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 stron,, and vigOr-
GUS. or II each OF these parents have
not already produced other animals of |
exceptional merit. II is not considered |
good business to pay very large price
for one OF their offspring. Unless the !:
parents have proved their ability to
produce excellence in a large hummer
OF their offspring the chances are that
the animal In question will prove a
great disappointment. All Of the
grandparents combined exert an irf1u
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 to be practically a negli.
gible quantity.
After care has been exercised in the
selection of the sire. both for indi-
vidual excellence and good ancestry.
Inc real trial comes when the actual |
breeding qualities Of the male are
tested out by mating him to few fe- I
males which have proved their merit
~ breeders. II his offspring with
.hese females fail to show exceptional
merit. then he should be discapded at \
'nce and another young male tried out :
n the same way until a satisfactory I
me is found. Successful breeders are
'lways trying out young males for tho
purpose OF having something reliable
reserve. The failure to take this
'recaution has been the undoing Of
many excellent herds. Certainly net
more than one in four Of the most
romising offspring Of excspfionAl'
arents. backed up BY the best OF an,
sstry. ever really added anything .
he excellence Of the breed. The -
'ction. then. BY pedigree and individ.
Atty. simply Increases the chances
getting . satisfactory herd sire to
bout one In four. The wise ana sue.
'ssful breeder 10 not willing to take
lis risk. but prepares beforehand IN.
he ID absolutely sure Of his ground.
Not 20 much attention need bs paid b
the selection Of the herd sire in
No where tho stock II kept for util- -
alone. - in case Of man raising
'gs for market. but in this case also
10 OF first importance that the here
70 comes Of good parents and that
10 strong and vigorous in every
y. Purity Of blood IL no absolute
aranty Of excellence. The chances
. that the pure.bred aire vvtli NJ
le to transmit the desired qualities
tn much more certainty than IN
% Of the animal with Z mixed an.
stry. but vitality and proliflcacy
} the all-important and far-reachine
tors to be considered.
Il. L. Jordan,
Louisiana State University.