The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Value Of We'll
BRED live STOCK
(By H. A. Lindgren.)

TdiScu IL lS DSluS utmOuStTdteu
every day, that with the change in
conditions effecting the raising of live
stock, that fewer numbers more eff
cient in the production of the things
for which they are intended, must take
the place of the larger numbers that
were formerly raised. TRUE it is not
possible for eevry farmer to purchase
registered stock. However it its pos
sible to select the best of the females
at hand and use pure bred sires and
thus improve with each generation.
1t has rightly been said that the sire
should always be better than the best
female in the herd. Where this
method of breeding is practised it is
possible to grade up a herd to the
| highest efficiency.
Too often in breeding live stock,
is used because he is more easily
available and at a smaller cost The
result of such mating tends toward
an inferior grade of stock. In the
N
production, the type of sire to select
is one that will produce meat most ef-
ficiently and at the same time trans
NIT these qualities.
Probably the lessons learned from
the dairy bull associations bring out
the value of the pure bred sire to the
best advantage. These associations
are organized for the purpose of as
sisting farmers who have small
number of cows. to get service from
a well bred bull. 1t is seldom pos
sible for a farmer who has but five
COWS, to see his way clear to purchase
an expensive bull By a plan OF co
operation a bull is purchased by
block of farmers having in the aggre-
gate 40 to so cows. The bull is kept
on farm centrally located so that
each of the farmers has access to him.
In an association conducted in Mary
land, records were kept for the sole
purpose of determining the value of
the pure bred sire on the production
of his heifers. The following produc-
tion comparisons were the result:
The average butterfat production of
daughters of associations bulls as
compared with their dams.
Bull No. II producing daughters.
Dams. 20s.3 pounds Of fat in a year
Daughters. 27O.5 pounds of fat in a
year. Each daughter excelled her
dam.
Bull No. 2-7 producing daughters.
Dams, 1854 pounds. Daughters
2S16 pounds. Five daughters excell-
ed their dams.
Bull No. 30 producing daughters.
Dams. 254.1 pounds. Daughters. 369.5
pounds. Each daughter excelled her
dam.
The lessons learned from this are
applicable to all branches Of breed
ing. A chance on a grade sire should
not be taken. The matter OF improv-
ed stock will be brought about most
economically by the use Of the pure
bred sire. II will be understood that
there are exceptions even In this.
however experienced has taught that
the sire is half OF the herd and half
Of the chances of success should not
be sacrificed in the use Of the grade.
it is necessary to choose from con-
formation alone. A typical dairy COW
Is one that shows the following three
striking points as given by Mr.. Eckles
OF Missouri:
1. The spare angular form. carry
ing no surplus flesh, but showing evil
dence of liberal feeding in her vigor-
GUS condition.
Q The extraordinary size and de
elopment of the udder and milk veins.
3. The marked development of the
barrel in proportion to the size OF
the animal.
Rarely does a good dairy COW carry
an excess of flesh. Her skin should
be pliable and soft showing good Keep
ing qualities This condition shows
that the animal Is not poor through
lack of feed but rather that all food
consumed goes to the production OF
milk. An animal that is poorly fed
has stupid appearance with hide
harsh and hair on end.
The milk producing organ. the I'D
der should be we'll deeloped and
should show ample room for expan-
sion. The teats should be well plac-
ed. that is wide apart and on the four
coraers Of an imaginary rectangle.
One OF the most important prob
,o,,s connected with the dairy busi-