The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-12-11


prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
When two young bull aristocrats
started out on journey to their new
home in Idaho recently, an experiment
which will interest cattle breeders was
started under way. These two bulls,
both of which havei enviable family
trees, were sent to the University of
Idaho-not to learn-but to teach, and
the subject they will demonstrate is
"The Best Method of Fixing and In
suring Uniform Transmission of High
Production in Dairy Cattle"
Better Animals In Larger Numbers.
The shipping of these two bulls, one
Holstein and one Jersey, was the
first step in carrying out co-opera-
tive experiment, undertaken by the
dairy division of the bureau of animal
industry, United States department of
agriculture, and the department of
dairying, University of Idaho. The
object is not to improve the high pro-
ducing dairy animals already in ex-
istence, but to determine a method of
breeding that will produce the better
animals in large numbers. When this
method is determined and put to prac
tical use, as ii undoubtedly will be- II
will result in a great advance to the
dairy industry. 1t is the average pro-
duction-the production of the rank
and file-that counts, and this expert
ment is aimed at raising that average.
rather than producing few record
breaking cows.
The experiment to be carried out at
the University of Idaho is a part of a
general plan for extensive breeding ex-
periments, outlined by II. II. Graves
of the federal departments dairy dlvi-
sion. Other experiments similar to
the Idaho project will be carried out
directly with the herds of the dairy
division and comparatively with herds
of state experiment stations and indi-
vidual breeders. These experiments
will fiji long felt need for series of
carefully planned tests, involving a
large enough number of animals, and
extending over a sufficient length of
time to warrant accurate and definite
conclusions as to the best method of
breeding. While the need for this
work has long been recognized, the
cost Of the work and organization re-
quired to handle Il successfully has
prevented private individuals from try
ing 1t.
A Unique Experiment.
In the Idaho experiment the follow
ing methods of breeding will be COM
pared: In-breedng vs.. out-breeding
and line-breeding VS.. out-breeding. As
Holsteins and Jerseys predominant In
the university herds, the Holstein will
be used in the ln-breeding and the Jer-
seys in the line-breedlng work. No
cross-breeding experiments will be at
tempted with these herds, but as this
type Of work is included in the general
plan, II will be carried on with the
herds of some other station or breeder.
According to the rather unique
agreement with the University of
the bulls used in the experiment, and
the university will furnish the cows.
The experiments will be carried out
with the animals In the university
herds, and not less than II females
are to be used as the foundation herd
in each experiment. The females and
their progeny are to remain the prop
erty of the university, while the bulls
will remain under the ownership of
the bureau of animal industry. The
university has agreed TO stand the ex-
pense of feeding and caring for the
bulls, and will retain all females pro-
duced In the herd until they have com
pleted one lactation period so that ac-
curate records will be had on the milk
calving for all daughters of each sire.
Why Results Will Be Valuable.
The results of the experiments
should furnish excellent data for de-
termining the relative value Of in
breeding, line-breeding and cross
breeding since the same foundation
animals will be the basis of both the
inbred and out bred herds. This will
make the inbred animals comparable.
generation by generation, with the out
bred animals. In like manner, the
same foundation animals will be the
basis Of the line-bred and cross-bred
herds making the line-bred animals
comparable with the cross-bred ami
mails.
The Jersey bull sent the University
of Idaho Is out of daughter of Hill
side Torono, proved bull recently
purchased to head the experimental
herd owned by the government at New
iberia. La. Hillside Torono has three
daughters with annual records Of over
500 pounds of fat on two milkings
daily and number Of good records In
the making. Hillside Torono is sired
by Pogis Goth of Hood Farm and out
OF Lass 57th Of Hood Farm, the daugh-