The Snowflake herald., 1921-09-16

This Purebred Bull Was Badly Stunt.
ed When 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 it dependable, for
the replies have been received from a
large proportion of farms on the ac-
credited-herd list (having cattle free
from tuberculosis), 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
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,
30.4 per cent; parasites and insect
pests, 15.1 per cent; inadequate hous-
ing and care, 12.4 per cent; contagious
diseases, 40 per cent; exposures 30
per cent; accident, 10 per cent; other
causes, II per cent. 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
This, moreover, includes a number Of
farms which reported no runts at all.
One farmer who is breeding good,
purebred hogs and feeding them
variety and plenty of feed, states:
I'VE have not had runty pig in two
contain from to II 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 are
provided. This is shown in a num-
Der of cases of successful hog raisers
who report that lack of uniformity in
fairly large litters has been overcome
by proper feeding. A cattle breeder
in Montana reports that proper feed
ing and care of a runty animal re-
suited in developing it to such finish
that it took first prize in it's class at
the state fair.
1t appears from a summary of 129
reports that q comparatively small
number of animals are born runty,
and that most stunning of growth be-
gins a relatively short time before
weaving, or soon afterwards. More
than so per cent of runty live stock
appears during infancy or before
weaving, according to reports, while
80 per cent shortly after weaving, and
only A per cent at birth.
In reply to question on the prac-
ticability of raising runts to market
size "A per cent of the replies Indicate
that it is not profitable, ii per cent
answered either yes. or yes with quail
ifications. Comments show that a
well-bred animal, even though under
sized. will develop into just as good
an animal when it is given an equal
chance. with inherited runtiness
due TO inferior breeding" one stock
man declared, sit does not paw. Other
cases due to lack of proper feed may
be raised with profit"