Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-26
|'Get Rid of the Rur1ts, "
Is Uncle Sam s Slogan;
Asks Data of Breeders
A plump little pig is a poker

| But QuHy pig is d IuHl.
| It is strange that breeders have
not made a more extensive study of
the runt animal than is indicated in
the two lines. but the truth Is that
no one knows exactly why the runt
mais. The United States department
Iof agriculture has set itself to the
task of finding out how often the
runt occurs and what are the causes
Iof his appearance. AS a base upon
ton. the bureau of animal industry
lis asking 1000 prominent American
breeders to contribute all that they
have learned about the dwarfed an
imal.
Through effort and study many
phases of breeding have come to the
point of science. There are other
mysteries that still battle investiga-
tors. The department of agriculture
does not consider the run runt ques-
ton unSolVable.
Is the runt an unavoidable result
of a natural law or is it chiefly the
product of careless breeding, of poor
feeding. or of neglect to protect t., it
department of agriculture proposed
to find out and the bureau Of animal
industry is preparing to conduct a
campaign against it.
Seeks Data from Breeders
| A QUESTIONABLE has been sent out
to American breeders upon which
they are asked to submit their own
| observations and deductions. The
results will be compared with data
which the bureau has been gathering
from experiments and other sources.
1t is already known that certain con-
ditions of feeding and breeding will
tend to produce a runt, but tnforma-
| ton to enable one to guard against
these conditions is needed. and it is
hoped that the breeders will be able
to assist in solving these problems
| through their experiences.
| The elimination of the runt. or a
decrease in his numbers. is aimed at
by the bureau of animal industry in
connection with the Better Sires-.
Better Stock" movement. There is
never so much profit in a runt as
in a normal individual. The runt re-
duires more care and as much barn
room as any other animal. while the
inferior quality of its flesh gives it
a large amount of money is lost. by
the farmers every year on account of
feeding and caring for runts. The
QUESTIONABLE is reproduced below.
Any breeder who does not receive a
copy direct from the bureau is urged
to take the questions from this an
lnouncement and answer them. The
more replies the more valuable will
be the results of this study Your
lions follow
l. From your experience. in what
classes Of live stock do the most
runts appear (horses, cattle, hogs,
sheep. etc.?
2. How many Of your farm ami
mails Excluding poultry). on the
basis of every 100 born are runty,
understood. or of inferior develop
ment?
3. Mark the three principal causes,
in your opinion. of runty stock.
| Parasites dice, worms, etc.).
Contagious disease.
Inadequate or unsuitable feed.
Lack of adequate housing CIR care.
Exposure.
Accident.
Other causes (mention the most
4. In what stage Of the animals
development Infancy or before
weaving, or later) does runtiness
chiefly begin?
5. In your own experience what
are the most practical ways of pre-
venting runts? Give details.
6. Does it pay to try to raise runts
to market size?
Z. To what extent would your
financial returns from live stock be
increased if you had no runts (1-5
lilo. 1-20 or other fraction or per-
Icentage)?
8. Make comments stating whether
you believe runty live stock can be
reduced in numbers and give actual
instances in which animals which
showed runty indications developed
into normal size.
9. Give the proportion of runts in
chief cause and best prevention.
| Address your letter containing the