The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-03-03

fnent of Agriculture.)
That the use of purebred sires Is us
ually a forerunner to ownership Of
well-bred live stock in 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. A greater quantity of data
will be needed before conclusive de-
ductfons may be made, but the follow
tiny facts are considered Of unusual in
terest to live stock owners:
Ownership Of Purebred Females Fol-
lows Better Sires.
The use of purebred sires appears to
lead automatically to the ownership
of a considerable quantity Of purebl ed
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 beIer-sires cam
paign at the end of the year, II per
cent were purebred, 20 per cent were
grades and crossbreds, and per cent
were scrubs.
The scrub females are believed to be
the remnants of former inferior stock
before purebred sires were used, since
purebred sires 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 H5, in swina "a,
in sheep So.
The per cent Of scrub females In
the same classes was: Cattle. 8.6,
swine. 20, sheep, Ga.
Poultry figures showed the smallest
per cent of scrub females in fOcks
headed by sires Of pure breeding. the
figure being 1.8.
Poultry showed the highest per cent
(7S.D of females Of pure breeding,
and the smallest per cent (1.8) Of
scrub females.
Similar figures Of horses, asses, an
goats are not presented. as 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 slres
for considerable period. which ma
terially reduced the percentage of
scrubs. This is likely to be true of a
good many who enroll early in the
campaign, but is evidence pointing
strongly to the influence Of purebred
sires on improvement In quality of
herds and fiocks.
Shows Results Of State Work for
Better Bulls.
The dive which many states have
been waging against scrub bulls was
reflected in the enrolment figures.
More purebred bulls were enrolled
than any other class OF live stock, ex.
cept poultry.
At the end of December there were
enrolled in the Better Sires-Better
Stock" campaign 600 animals, and
in addition S,949 poultry.
Facts Obtained With Special Care.
knowledge about the breeding of
live stock in the "Better Sires-Better
Stock" campaign is obtained with spe-
cial care. First, the owner of the
stock lists his animals kept for breed
ing on the enrolment blank in &C.
cordance with the official definitions
for the various classes Of animals with
respect to their parentage. As the
better-sires slogan indicates, all males
must be prrebred and Of good quality.
Female stock may be of any breed
ing ara spaces are provided for the
listing of purebred, grade. crossbred.
and scrub females. Then the classifi-
cation is approved by the county agent
In the county where the livestock
owner lives. In the relatively few
cases where there is no county agent.
the written Endorsement of the blank
by two experienced and disinterested
livestock owners Is required.
Every person agreeing in writing. on
the blank furnished. to use only pure
bred sires in his breeding operations
receives an emblem of recognition is-
sued comparatively by the United
States department Of agriculture and
he state In which he lives. So-cal.ed