Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-09-23

This Purebred Bull Was Badly Stunt
ed When a Calf, Mainly for Lack Of
Suitable Food, but When Given
Adequate Feed and Proper Care De-
veIoped Rapidly and Later Took
First Prize in His Class at the State
fair.
specialists consider 1t dependable, for
the leplies have been received from a
large proportion of farms on the ac-
credited-herd list (having cattle free
from tuberculosls), and most Of the
remainder are from farms whose own
ers are cooperating with the Depart
ment Of Agriculture and state agricul-
tural colleges in the Better Sires-
Better Stock" campaign. Those who
answered the questionable are, there
fore, interested In the control Of dis
ease and the Improvement In quality
Of domestic animals, and, IN general,
are progressive live stock owners.
In addition to the three principal
causes of runtiness previously men-
toned, the reports show that there
are numerous other contributing
causes. A summary Of the opinions
from 7S3 live stock owners shows that
the principal causes of runty live
stock are: Inferior breeding, 31.6 per
cent; inadequate or unsuitable feed.
BOA per cent; parasites and insect
pests, ISL per cent; inadequate hous-
ing and care, 12.4 per cent; contagious
diseases, 40 per cent; exposure, %
per cent; accident, 10 per cent; other
causes, 1T per ceEt. 1t appears that
the breeding Of well-selected purebred
stock produces very few understood
animals, but that with scrubs-espe-
cially when inbred-the percentage OF
runty stock is high
The reports show that runtiness Is
most prevalent among hogs. the aver
age percentage reported being 1O.1.
This, moreover, includes q number OF
farms which reported no runts at all.
One farmer who is breeding good,
purebred hogs and feeding them a
variety and plenty OF feed, states:
ave have not had a runty pig In two
years. although the filters sometimes
contain from TO IL pigs EACH"
The results Of the inquiry indicate
that the size Of an animal Of good
breeding at birth has but little rela-
ton to the mature weight where prop
er feed, care and management arc
provided. This Is shown In num-
Der of cases Of successful hog raisers
Who report that lack OF uniformity In
eairly large litters has been overcome
By proper feeding. A cattle breeder
IN Montana reports that proper feed
ing and caro- Of q runty animal re-
pulted In Developing 4 to such nnish
hat Il took nrst prize In Its cfA0 ~
DE state fair.
n Appears freua Q summary u go
reooxfss that q comparatively small
,umber Of saamals ara born runty.
md tat most stunting sf srswth b.
mn a relatively short time bsfofN +
roaming. ~ soon afterwards Asss
han 50 per cent OF runty hrs STOCK
lpoears during infancy ~ befors
vea ming. according to reports. while
8 per cent shortly after WEAVING. and
uty "A per cent at birth.
4. reply to q question On the prac-
;.ability of raising runts to market
lie IA per cent Of the replies Indicate
hat IL Is not profitable, IA per cent
nswered either yes, or yes with quail
fcations. Comments show that
,ell-bred animal. even though under
ICED. will develop into Just as gooo
n animal when 1t Is given an equal
nance. with inherited runtiness
ne TO inferior breeding" one STOCK
IAN declared, at does not pay. other
oses due to lack of proper feed may