The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-30
tiers STOCK
FOR FLORIDA
Being URGED
Nv JOHN NJ. SCOTT,

ANIMAL lnQUSIxl0lSt. Ia. experiment.
Station.
The question OF good livestock in
Florida Is one that has been in the
minds of a good many people for some
years During the past five years we
have seen rapid developments along
these lines In the Improvement Of
livestock in any new section there are
certain factors that accompany the
development that in the end are detIf-
mental. The chief factor is the buy
ing of cheap or low grade pure bred
breeding stock. This applies TO all
kinds Of livestock. cattle, hogs. sheep,
horses and poultry. The man who has
been raising common or scrub STOCK
is often induced to buy a pure bred
sire because he is offered cheap.
Others buy the cheap sire or dam be-
cause they are not sufficiently ac-
quainted with pure bred stock TO be
able to choose between good and In
ferior pure bred animals.
The best pure bred breeding stock
cannot be bought for song. The
common saying that cheap goods are
always expensive and good goods are
always cheap applies to stock raising
with equal force.
The question asked is, what can I
afford to pay for a good sire? This
will depend on your local conditions
U) Have you the necessary feed to
feed a good sire as he should be fed?
CO Will you give him the necessary
care and attention that he deserves
ca The size of your breeding herd
and the feed. care and attention that
you will give them. If you are cat
tie raiser and have a herd of 80 20
-
in paying more for goodsirethan a man
with only a few cows. The man with
the larger number of cows would get
full service while the man with only
a few would not. This also applies TO
hogs. sheep. horses and poultry
1t is impossible to say how much
should be paid for a good sire. For
instance, a good sire may be offered
for $3.50, and at same time a very n7uci,
better sire may be offered for $500
or $3.50. Which would be the cheap
err? The money value at the time of
purchase should not be the deciding
factor in making the purshnSn. We
should and must take into consitieY;i-
ton the difference in value OF the i'm
provement in the herd of the two
sires. In purchasing a new sire. one
should be certain to see that the new
one is better than the previous one.
If not, there will be no imorovement
in the herd. And If there is no i'm
provement, we will have gained moth
ing in the exchange. If a sire is used
for two or three years without any
in the herd. that much
time will have been lost or wasted
Too much care and Judgment cannot
be used in the selection OF breeding
stock
Too many men begin the breeding
Of livestock without giving the busi-
ness due consideration. This is espe-s
cially true OF the men who know little
Or nothing about livestock. They are
very likely to buy as foundation stock.
animals Of inferior quality because
they are cheap. After these men have
been in the business for n few years
they realize their mistake. but thos"
years have been in a way. wasted. re
Is expensive and at tho same time. q
severe Jolt to turn back and make a
new start. Hence the necessitvs of
giving the business due coDe'dera ton!
and see to 1t that orr fo,i-,tiation
breeding animals are of the right type
and breeding.