The Delta independent., 1921-01-21
BETTER sIREs MOVE ENDS FIRST
YEAR WITH GOOD RECORD

The Better Sires" campaign Of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture has
completed its first year. The National
Western Stock Show management
took up this live stock betterment
with Uncle Sam year ago and desig,
mated that great stock show Of Jan
uary. 1920, as the Better sires- Bet
ter Stock" exposition of its long
series.
Grateful recognition came from the
officials of the Department Of Agri-
culture of this aid.
The government now reports
wider understanding and use Of good
purebred stuff and definite knowledge
of how to improve domestic live stock
all as the result of twelve months
of the Better sires-Better Stock"
movement.
During the year, 2,756 persons en-
rolled in the campaign and each re-
ceived an official emblem donating
participation in the movement. These
persons listed with the department
total of 131,4S2 animals and in addi-
ton 10000 head of poultry. Accord
ing to summary of results just made
public, there is a very small proper
ton of inferior female stock in herds
and flocks headed by purebred sires.
Very few of the females are scrubs.
only 81 per cent. With poultry the
figures are still lower, % per cent.
While live stock experts have gener-
ally recognized the beneficial influ-
ence of good sires on the quality OF
farm animals, the yer ylow percent
age of scrubs is a surprise even to
officials In charge of the better-sires
compaign. Taken as a whole the major
| ity of female animals bred to pure
bred sires are grades. But approximate
ly two-thirds of the sows are pure
bred: also two-thirds of all the poul-
| try listed are of pure breeding.
| OF the 46 states cooperating with
the United States Department of Agri-
culture in advancing the merits and
use of purebred sires, Virginia. Nebras
ka, South Carolina, Massachusetts.
Washington and Colorado have been
especially prominent In Virginia SS1
live stock owners have signed agree
ments TO use purebred sires in all
/ CldSSts Ol Kept anu W
methods leading to further live stock
improvement. Progress has been mea-
sured and reported every three
months since the campaign started.
Everyone who keeps any kind of do
mestic live stock is eligible to parti-
cipation in this nationwide plan of
improvement. The vast majority of
those active in the work are farmers
and stockmen; members OF boys and
girls live stock clubs are likewise
taking part. The improvement Of all
live stock in the United States is a
fundamental step toward more econo.
mical production and enabling this
country more effectively to meet for.
eign competition. Effective examples
in support of this policy are the en-.
rollments by President Wilson of his
flock of sheep and by Secretary of
Agriculture Meredith Of his herd of
dairy cattle in behalf of better sires.
In the administration OF the i'm.
proved live stock program, the United
States Department of Agriculture is
furnishing data. posters. illustrations,
and other suitable material to persons
interested in raising the quality of
: stock in their localities. During the
coming year the work Is to be ampli'
fled with view to furnishing live
stock growers new and useful infor'
matiin on breeding. One branch OF
this work or the cause and prevention
of runty live stock is already in pro.
gress.