Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-12-20
F A r M A N D
O r. CHI A r d



There are some sections of the
country that have become noted for
the quality Of the livestock they pro-
duce: In most instances this Is
found to be the result Of concentrat-
cd effort. The State of Wisconsin Of
fers . splendid illustration Of what
can be accomplished through COM
munity breeding associations. Here
are to be found 1856 organizations de-
voted to the breeding Of high-class
2, beef cattle; 10, horses; 2, swine;
and IL, general livestock. These as
sociations have met with marked sue
cess and prove conclusively that COM
munity livestock breeding is not an
experiment when thoroughly organic
ed and properly conducted. Living
ston County, Mich, and a consider
able section of New York, particular
ly the REGION adjacent to Syracuse,
are famous for their dairy cattle. In
Iowa prominence has been gained in
swine raising. The bluegrass re-
gion Of Kentucky, noted as the CEN
er Of the American saddle
horse breeding, affords further ex-
ample of the success resulting from
uaility Of effort and purpose. There
are still other sections where atten-
ton is being given to the production
of the different classes of livestock.
Each is noted as a breeding center,
and buyers who pay the highest prices
are attracted from other States and
even foreign countries.
The organization of community
or cooperative livestock breeders as
ISOLATION requires the services of a
leader, as do all movements that have
for their object the improvement of
unsatisfactory conditions. The lead
er in an enterprise of this kind should
be one Of the successful breeders of
the community-aggressive as well as
progressive. With such man at the
head of the movement, little trouble
should be experienced in interesting
others and securing their coopera-
ton. A preliminary organization
should be effected, a committee APP
pointed to draft a constitution and
bylaws and a definite breed selected
which the association is to promote.
The selection of breed is of great
importance. If the best results are
to be gained, individual taste should
be disregarded and a breed selected
which has proved profitable in the
community. The action taken in this
respect should be unanimous, and ev-
cry effort should then be made in i'm
proving the type of stock to which
the organization is committed. When
the breed has been decided upon, the
first step is to procure a number of
sound, pure-bred sires of that breed
to be mated with the females owned
by the members. If there are a few
good privately owned sires already
in the community they can be put
out to service and the expense divided
on q pro rata basis.
If additional sires are found nee
essary, it should be possible for the
association to secure them at con-
siderable saving in price through the
selection of committee Of compel
ent men authorized to make the pur-
chases. 1t will in some cases be adj
visable to have a qualified veterinar-
ian as one member of the committee.
At the opening of the breeding sea-
son the sires should be placed at the
most convenient points and put in the
hands Of capable and efficient men
who understand the breeding ques-
ton and who will take proper care
of the animals in their charge. After
each second season it may prove adj
visable to change or shift the sires.
This will allow each breeder to pro-
cure the service of new sire and at
the same time make it possible to de-