The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-12-22
HOW To BUILD If
A GOOD FARM HERD
Live Stock Is farmers Opportunity,
Says j. n. Mcleod, of Exten-
sion Division.


kansas farmer interested in livestock
70 build up al 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.
Tire 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 indi-
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 a strong constitution. that
is. deep chest development, with
large heart girth. An animal without
this will not usually stand the strain
Of the amount of breeding usually eS
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 headquarters.
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 we'll crest
ID neck with a strong male appear
ance in the head and good constitu-
ton. Herds Of hogs as we'll as cattle
are often ruined by falling 10 pay at
tention to these points. The practice
IF breeding females that have the
characteristics CT males will have
tendency 70 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
~ stands 70 reason that the females
constitute the other half Thus the
selection Of this psr1of the herd has
an important bearing upon the sue
cess of The prospective breeder. The
same things thai haxe=been pointed
out in the selection of the male apz
plies o the female, With the exception
that the female should show female
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 strong
upon the prospective
buyer whether the would-be buyer is
selecting fee0er or breeding animals.
Inc man who has developed herd
for its uniformity will have
ter prices than the breeder who has
not given the matter or uniformity
due consideration The prospective
breeder viii find il a fairly easy job
To pick uniform herd If he Is going
into the pure bred business, but where
starting with Arkansas grades or
scrubs he viii find il more difficult
10 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 sic
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
encouraged by the more attractive
prices offered for the better animals,
hut il only stands to reason that II
practice is made OF disPosing of the
better females no improvement can
br made. or at least il aill be very
slow, while on the other hand if
practice is made of selling off the
poorest females in the herd and keep
ins the best a time will come when
the breeders poorest animals will be
much superior. perhaps. 10 the best
am nails owned BY a neighbor breeder
who has mol 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 70
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 a small way.
In 1883 a certain farmer in Texas
stared in the pure-bred cattle bust