Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-09-04
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)


Of the country's increased popula-
ton, the United States department Of
agriculture, in cooperation with the
state agricultural colleges and other
agencies interested in live stock i'm
provement, announces a national bet
ter live stock crusade, to get actively
in motion October 1 under the slogan
of "Better Sires-Better Stock"
The plan is to hasten the replace
ment of the multitude Of scrub domes-
tic animals in the United States with
purebred or high-grade stock and also
to improve the quality of purebreds
themselves. 1t has been evolved
through long and careful observation
of the live stock industry in this coun-
try and after extensive consultation
with specialists and breeders.
Nations Milk Average Low.
For many years this country has
contained thousands Of the finest Spe-
cimens Of live stock in the world, but
in spite of that fact the quality and
productive capacity of the average
farm herd and flock is still low. For
instance, the average dairy cow in
the United States yields about 1000
pounds of milk year, a figure scarce
ly two-thirds the average production
in some European countries, such as
Denmark. The United States has
thousands of COWS which have milk
yields of more than $4,000 pounds
double the Danish average-but on the
other hand it has hundreds Of thou
sands which are kept for milk and yet
yield only a small fraction as much
product as the best cows, though re-
ceiving nearly as much feed and care.
The difference in milk yield is due
in large measure to a difference in
breeding, but a herd of low production
can be improved rapidly by the use Of
a purebred sire from a family Of high
producers.
More SirIoin on WeII-Bred Cattle.
Among all classes Of live stock a
similar condition exists. Proper breed
ing of beef animals results in better
and more uniform stock, having a
greater percentage of desirable cuts Of
meat and a smaller quantity of bone,
offal, and inedible parts. Likewise in
swine, sheep, goats and poultry pro-
duction, the kind Of parent stock large
ly determines the quality and market
value of the products. The crusade Of
Improvement now to be undertaken is
the outgrOwth of Investigations in
many countries, and close study Of
public opinion. In most live stock re-
giOns of the world a gradual evOlu-
ton toward better live stock has been
taking place place for centuries. The
rapidity Of these changes has an i'm
portant bearing on world commerce
and on the prosperity of the nations
in which improvement has been great
est.
Individual and community efforts in
many cases have resulted in marked
live stock progress in small areas. The
islands of Jersey and Guernsey are
familiar examples of this kind Of &C
complishment, but no large country so
far has endeavored in an organized
way to improve all its live stock si-
multaneously.
Live Stock Men Equal to Task.
Officials of the bureau of animal in
cred the problem from every angle are
convinced that it is possible to hasten
the natural course of live stock evolu-
ton with benefit to the nation. They
are confident also that the live stock
men Of the country are eager to under
take the task.
The means Of accomplishing most
Of the Improvement, which affects
about 20O,OOO,OO0 head of live stock,
besides poultry, will be through wider
distribution and increased use of pure
bred sires and dams.
Once the use of purebred sires be-
comes general throughout the coun
try, the process of grading up will be
rapid. Many experiments and also
practical experience, when good sires
are used, show that within three gen.
erations most Of the individuals in
scrub herd headed by purebred male
resemble purebred animals in appear
ance. In a few more generations, UNI
der skillful breeding, the former scrub
stock is graded up to such an extent
that for production Of meat and other
animal products, they are practically
as useful as purebreds. The chief diff
ference between "high-grade" ami
nal and purebred is in the value
for breeding. Only the latter can be
used in producing purebred breeding
stock. Moreover only purebreds are
eligible to registry.
Official Emblem to Be Furnished.
The department of agriculture
through its cooperative state agencies
is preparing to supply live stock rails
ers with printed Information that tells
in popular language the best animal