The Delta independent., 1925-03-06
LIVESTOCK NOTES
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Selection of Breeding Stock.

without them, is presented with prob
lens Of selection of the stock to
breed. In working out these prob
lens few precautions can well be
observed if the best results are to be
obtained over period Of years.
Before any breeding should be at.
tempted, fair knowledge of animal
type should be procured There are
definite forms which are better suit
ed to each function for which animals
are wanted. On the average farm,
animals are kept for beef, for milk
production, for pork production, NUT
ton production, draft work, and for
egg production. And in each of these
cases there are certain body forms
and characteristics which more eff
fectiyely enable an animal to meet
the purposes for which they are
kept. Only brief space can be de-
voted to these types here.
In the case of the beef animal.
greater breadth and thickness of body
is desired. The back should be broad
and deep, and the quarters should
be deep and heavily fleshed. A gen
eral impression of blockness should
be conveyed throughout the body
form
In the case of the dairy COW the
triple wedge form is desired. This
triple wedge will be produced by a
well developed barrel and udder, a
straight long back, thin shoulders,
and wide hip bones. The fleshing on
the dairy COW should be thin. showing
strong but not surplus muscleing
The dairy cow is angular in contrast
to the blockiness of the beef animal
In the lard type of hog. strong bone
is a requisite. A long, wide. and well
arChed back is essential. and the legs
should be long and the flanks deep.
Width OF body is here again neces-
sary. The mutton type of sheep is
very similar to the lard type Of hog,
though possessing a level back in
stead Of one arched as is the back of
the hog.
The draft type OF horse must be
massive and must be closely coupled
The legs should be OF moderate
length. and the body should be deep.
Strong and muscleing is essential and
the legs must be placed under the
four corners OF the body. Power
must be registered in every part OF
the body.
In the case OF poultry for the pro-
duction OF eggs the same body char
acters are necessary as are desired
in the dairy COW Here length and
depth Of body furnish capacity for the
consumption Of feed and the manu-
facture OF eggs.
In every case given. these charact-
ers are the ones most evident to the
eye Of the average farmer But there
are other considerations which are
Of more vital Importance in the build
ing up OF any branch OF livestock on
the farm and they are considerations
which more generally escape the no.
tice Of the unpractised breeder
These are the possessions OF con
stitutional vigor and nervous energy.
Either OF these are necessary in the
case OF any Of the animals given
above II they are to perform the
fupctions they are kept for. For
convenience in discussing the things.
dairy cattle shall be used as ex-
amples
There are certain parts Of the
body which indicate constitutional Wig
or and nervous energy. Perhaps the
most important OF these is the eye.
No dairy COW. even though she pos
sess a large and well developed udder
and good capacity for the consump-
tion Of food, should be used as a.
breeder unless she possesses also,
bright prominent and alert eyes. In
case she does not possess these she
will not possess the nervous energy
necessary to make her worker and
she will never make the best use OF
the other characteristics she pos
sesses.
The size and shape Of the head are
also indicative Of the essential char /
acters 4 long narrow head is es.
pecially 10 be Disseminated against. |
Large. floppy ears ungraccfully at F.
tached TO the head show lack Of
the nervous quality necessary. Al
pinciod and small muzzle. with small /.
nostrils, shows couclusively that the |
animal cannot procure the necessary |
amount Of air to carry on great body |
activities And in conclusion. dry. |
tight and dead skin and hairy cover. .
ing indicate a weakened constitution /
and lack Of quality necessary to per /
init the best productive process.
As has been said these things are .
apt to be passed up by a breeder .
And yet they are the things which .
are most entirely passed on from
Eonerntion TO cencrntion A wenk |