The Harrison times., 1920-03-06
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of AErIcuILuIel

and Better
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of AEricultureJ
That the use of purebred Sires Is us
uany q foreruuucr to ownership of
wellbred live stock i'm the various
classes and breeds is shown by data
on breeding just made public by the
bureau of animal industry United
States department Of agriculture. The
facts and figures compiled are based on
records Of the Better SireS-Better
Stock campaign, which at the close OF
1919 had been in progress just three
months. \ greater quantity of data
will be needed before conclusive de-
ductions may be made, but the follow
ing facts are considered of unusual in
terest to live stock owners:
Ownership Of Purebred Females Fol-
lows Better Sres.
The use of purebred sires appears to
lead automatically TO the ownership
of a considerable quantity of purebled
female stock.
The use Of purebred sires apparent
ly results also in the culling out of
scrub females, judging from the small
proportion Of scrub females to grade,
crossbred, and purebred female ami
mails owned by purebred-sire users.
OF all female stock owned by per-
sons enrolled in the better-sires cam
paign at the end Of the year, II per
cent were purebred, &c per cent were
grades and croSSbreds, and per cent
We're scrubs.
The scrub females are believed to be
the remnants of former inferior stock
before purebred sires were used, since
purebred eireS lead automatically to
either purebred, crossbred, or grade
offspring, depending on the blood lines
of the females used.
Low Percentage Of Scrub Females.
The percentage of purebred females
found in herds and flocks owned by
purebred-Sire users was noticeably
similar for the various classes of ami
mails. In cattle the per cent of pure
bred females was 63.5, in swine G4,
in sheep G3.
The per cent of scrub females in
the same classes was: Cattle, 3.6,
swine, 90, sheep, 6.4.
Poultry figures showed the smallest
per cent Of scrub females in tlocks
headed by sires Of pure breeding, the
figure heing IS.
Poultry showed the highest per cent
(7S.D Of females Of pure breeding
and the smallest per cent Q.S) Of
scrub females
Similar figures of horses, asses, an !
goats are not presented, az the enroll
ment Of these animals is not consider
ed sufficiently large at this time Those
classes, however, were included in the
totals,
Comments accompanying blanks Of
enrolment Indicated that many live
stock owners had used purebred srcs
for a considerable period, which ma
teriaIIy reduced the percentage Of
scrubs. This is likely to he true Of a
good many who enroll early in the
camnaign but is evidence pointing
strongly to the influence of purebred
slros on Improvement in quality Of
herds and nocks,
Shows Results Of State Work for
Better Bulls.
The drive which many states have
been wagng against scrub bulls was
reflected in the enrolment figures,
More purobrcd bulls were enrolled
than any other class Of live stock, eX-
cept poultry,
At the end of December there were
enrolled in the Better Sres-Better
Stock" campaign 6,2o0 animals, and
in addition S0l0 poultry,
Facts Obtained With Special Care.
knowledge about the breeding Of
live stock in the Better Sircs-Better
Stock campaign IS obtained with spe-
cla care. First. the owner of the
stock lists his animals kept for breed
ing on Tie enrolment blank In &C.
cordance with the official definitions
for the various classes Of animals with
respect TO their pOrontage. As the
bctter.siroS slogan indicates, oIl males
must he purcbrod and Of good quality,
Female stock may he Of any breed.
Ing and spaces are provided for the
listing Of purehrod, grade croSShNd,
and scrub females. Then the closS'A.
cntion is approved 10y the county agent
IN the county whore the livestock
owner lives. In the relatively few
cases where there Is no county agent
the written Endorsement Of the blanl;
hy two experienced and dlSlnterested
livestock owners Is required
Every person agreeing in writing on
the blank furnished 70 use only pure
h,ed slrcs in his breeding operation,
receives an emblem Of recognition Is
| sued comparatively by the United
states department Of agriculture and
the sta'e In which he lives. So.colled