Sharp County record., 1916-12-22
HOW To BUILD Up
AGOOD FARM HERD
Live Stock Ia Farmers Opportunity,
Says J. n. Mcleod, of Exten-
sion Division.

1t should be the desire Of every Ar
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 the herd 1t
does not matter how good the females
are, unless the sire is good indl-
vidual, capable of stamping his char
acteristics upon his offspring, prog
/ ress in the improvement cannot be ex-
pected. Therefore, those expecting to
go 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 grth. An animal without
this will not usually stand the strain
of the amount of breeding usually e3-
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 we'll developed hindquarters.
Watch For Characteristics Of
Prepotency.
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 strong male appear
ance in the head and good constitu-
ton. Herds of hogs as we'll 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 q
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.
ly 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, The
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.
istlcs.
Select For Uniformity Of Type.
Uniformity Of type in the females Is
| another thing that needs consioera-
ton. The appearance Of herd in
| this respect always makes strong
impression upon the prospective
buyer whether the would.be buyer Is
selecting feeder or breeding animals.
The man who has developed herd
recognized for its uniformity will have
q 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 II fairly easy Job
to pick a uniform herd II he is going
J into the pure bred business, but where
starting with Arkansas grades or
scrubs he will find 1t a 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,
but II only stands to reason that II a
practice Ia made Of dsposing OF the
better females no Improvement can
be made or at least II will be very
slow, while on the other hand II n
practice Ia made OF selling Off tho
poorest females In the herd and keep.
Ing the best time will come when
tho breeders poorest animals will be
much superior, perhaps, to the best
animals owned by neighbor breeder
who has not followed systematic So
lection In his herd,
Begin In tho Livestock Business Ae,
eordIna TO Means and Experience,
fhe saneet and safest way for the