Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-22

This Purebred Bull Was Badly stunt
ed when q Calf, Mainly for Lack Of
Suitable Food. but When Given
Adequate Feed and Proper Care De-
vsloped Rapidly and Later Toot
First Prize In hIs Class nc the State
FaIr.
specialists consider II dependable, for
] the replies have been received from q
large proportion OF farms on the &C
credited-herd list (having cattle free
from tubercHlosis). 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 S;res-
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 snow 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.
3O.4 per cent: parasites and insect
pests. 1S.1 per cent; inadequate hOus-
ing ana care, 12.4 per cent; contagious
diseases, 40 per cent; exposure. %
per cent: accident. 10 per cent; other
causes. IL per cent. IL appears that
the breeding OF well-selected purebred
stock produces very few undersize'
animals. but that with scrubs-espe-
cIalfy when iIAred--the percentage Of
runty stock IL high.
The reports show that runtiness Is
most prevalent among hogs. the aver
age percentage reported being 10.1.
This, moreover, includes q number of
farms which reported no runts at all.
One farmer who is breeding good,
purebred hogs and feeding them
variety and plenty OF feed, stmes
We have not had q runty pig In two
years. although the filters sometimes
contain from 8 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 are
provided This Is shown in q mum
Der Of cases Of successful hog raisers
who report that lack Of uniformity In
fairly large filters bas 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 II to such a finish
that II took first prize In Its class ut
the state fair.
II appears from a summary Of go
reports that a comparatively small
number OF animals are born runty.
and that most stunting Of growth be-
gins 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
IS per cent shortly after weaving, and
only A. per cent at birth.
In reply to a question on the prac-
ticability Of raising rupks to market
size "a per cent Of the replies indicate
that Il 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 IL IL given an equal
chance. with inherited runtiness
due to inferior breeding" one stock
man declared. cit does not pay. Other
cases due to lack Of proper feed may
be raised with profit"