The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-04
Conservative Breeder

To be ranked among the early pioneers gratifying position accorded Judge c. E. Thomas of Prattville. Not only was he one of those far-slghted few who real ized that the lack of live stock was the millstone around the neck Of the seuth, but fe was also one of those very few who had the stamina and earnestness which enables them co risk their efforts and capital in untired operations. He realized that dairy cattle wege essential to re-establish the fertility of our soil that they were necessary to abolish the one-crop system; that they would be the best method to insure a steady income and decrease our unbearable credit meth cd; and that they would furnish reg= ular labor and better living conT- tions. Not long ago l was sitting with him in the bank of which he is president when he saw herd of very good Angus breeding cows going to the stock pens. He ran to the street, stopped the owner of the cattle, and asked him why he was selling his' cattle. In answer he fo'sad that the man had some debts and wanted to pay them. Judge Thomas then offered to lend him money on his animals the of fer was refused. This man had pur- chased breeding animals when they were high, and was then selling them on a low market, loosing both ways Judge Thomas told me that this little incident was typical of too many of our southern farmers, and that such incidents were the cause of the souths past low agricul- Mural standing.
 He chose the Holsten breed because of the very high and relatively cheap milk production; because when the COW Is no longer useful for milk production she can be fattened and sent to market.
 Early in the development of his herd
 Mir. Thomas saw that he should have the best bull that he could find to head his registered animals. After negotiating with the Holstein- -Friesian Association of America he purchased L. H. c. Alcartra Rag Apple No. 1916S5, which he believes to be the south's best bull. On looking over his pedigree found that his six nearest id dams have records which average ssSi 1 pounds of butter in seven days; and that i the record of his twelve nearest dams average 2S 99 pounds. He Is an Aicartra' and out of good daughter of Rag Apple Korndyke Sth, who recently sold in pubic auction for st25, 900 His sire Is three fourths brother to King segis Pontiac
 Count, whose daughters hold three worlds records as heifers. His dam sire is the only living bull to have two daughters above 70 pounds. This pull oi Judge Thomas is indeed an exceptional one, and which is doing a great amount
 of good for the south.
 1 The Thomas herd is what he calls | diversified herd. He has registered COWS for those who have good grades, but whc want to get into the pure-bred Holsteir l business slowly; or for those who already have their registered herds, but wan tnew blood. He has good high-grade COWS for those who have poor herds ana wan to improve them; or for dairymen or in ldividual owners who are looking Tor mgr production. He has registered mature' bulls for those who need new herd sir' for their blooded stock, or for those wn' are desirous of improving their scrub hero Iby this slow but sure method. Of cours he always has bull calves. While ther IT saw six registered bull calves all 0 which are sons of the King whose tnir lteen nearest dams have seven-day butte Irecords which average over D pounds whose service fee is s0c0; and wno ha nineteen tested daughters that average ltwo-year-olds 1878 pounds of butter an 372.5 pounds of milk in seven days. Ever lone of the calves is from an A. K , dam. I asked the judge why he wante so many bull calves. His answer wa lthat many men wanted to buy the bes lthat could be had; but that 1t was neces sary to buy them while they were SUI young in order to get them at low ngures He then took me to see several MnprS
 registered heIfers which are grandezugh ters of s5O.Oo0 King Segis Pontias A1car ltra and y2s,oc0 Rag Apple Korndyke stf After looking at these beautiful youn animals we went to another field wher
 some bred heifers who are granddaugn jters os these two bulls were quietly graz ling. He explained that he always na this class of animals on hand because n could sell them cheaper than he coui' those that have already freshened: am that he found most purchasers preferre l>his class to buy So his herd include aninals of all ages and sexes, both regis tered and high grades. I was much Tn lterested in watching his grade milkin 1berd average five gallons day in tn , coldest part of the winter. He can ac Accommodate any class of buyer. whethe he wants an unregistered heifer calf s25 or whether he is in the market TOT
 l6. 600 bull It Is the most compiete, oNS' tsihed and yet unified herd that l nav Iseen in the south. ,.~
 Aside from his dairy interest Judg Thomas is associated with several asrl cultural enterprises. He is probably tn hest known Hampshire breeder In th
 state. he is chairman of the aRricu
 ltural committee of the Alabama bank ers'- Association; he Is on the state poar
 of agriculture; he is a memDer or ,n lexecutive committee or the Aiaoaiha u
 vision of the Amerincan Cotton Associa tion, he is the donor of many asricu
 tural prizes; and he Is the president
 A bank that is doing it's full share towar
 inc development of agricultural interes 1 in it's community. and stocKmaf l