The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-12-17
Show Value of
Pure-Bred Sire
Results Given Of Thirty
Year Breeding Tests
With Beef Cattle.

Of Agriculture.)
Ten years of the thirty-year breed
ing demonstration with beef cattle at
Sni-a-Bar farms, Grain Valley, Mo-,
have been concluded and the results
made available in printed form to the
public. The demonstration farm,
which is primarily for the purpose Of
showing the profitable results that can
be obtained by the use of pure-bred
sires bred to common cows, was estab-
lished by W. r. Nelson, a public-spir-
tied citizen interested in live stock.
Since his death in 1915 the farms have
been operated by the trustees of his
estate.
The breeding work on the farms Is
conducted along scientific lines, al
though conditions such as are found
on the average livestock farm are adj
hered to in the handling of the stock,
feeding and marketing. Public DEM
onstrations have been held annually
and in recent years have been attend
ed by about 10000 visitors. The re-
suits of the progress made in the first
decade are the basis for Miscellaneous
Circular No. IAN, just issued by the
United States Department Of Agricul.
ture.
Foundation Female Stock.
The foundation female stock for the
breeding work consisted of 200 com
mon red cows" showing evidence of
Shorthorn breeding, selected by Mr..
Nelson at the Kansas City stock yards.
The cows were of fair to good quality,
judged from market standpoint, and
of good size. They were from four to
five years old, most Of them with calf
and dry. A few had calves at side.
This basis for selection insured having
animals that would breed.
The equipment and arrangement of
the farm were typical of what the av-
erage farmer could provide. Mr.. Mel
son decided that his stock should have
no better feed or care than would be
possible on any farm. He had pref
erence for roam steers. believing that
they possessed superior feeding quail
ties. Since one method of obtaining
the roam color is to breed white bulls
to red cows, he selected white Short
born bulls to use with the red cows
Later breeding work, however, includ-
ed many roam bulls. The original fe-
male stock has bsen added to from
time to time by purchase of similar
cows By the fall of 1922 the breeding
stock at Sni-a-Bar farms had increased
to more than 1000 head.
Summary of Conclusions.
A summary of the conclusions drawn
from this study by the authors Of this
circular includes the following:
The use OF pure-bred sires of accept
able quality results in successive i'm
provement in the quality of the calf
crop, as shown by conformation and
market price.
The greatest single step toward i'm
proved quality, compared with com
mon stock, occurs in the first cross
Subsequent crosses increase quality
and market value still more.
Quality and the best market prices
are approximately in proportion to the
number Of crosses of pure breeding
After the third or fourth cross the
offspring compare very favOrably with
pure-bred stock in conformation, and
only exceptionally good sires can
bring about further improvement.
Steers sired by pure-bred bulls at Sni-
a-Bar farms have topped the market
sixteen out of twenty times and have
four times been the highest for the
year to date of sale on the Kansas City
market for fat yearling beeves.
Early maturity is conspicuous re-
suit of beef-cattle Improvement
through the use of pure-bred sires.
Steers raised at Sni-a-Bar farms as
a part of the demonstration have sold
consistently for about So hundred
pounds more than the average of other
cattle on the same market. and during
the period Of high prices in 1918 for as
high as $685. a hundred above the
market average.
Showing results are in general
agreement with market preferences so
far as indicated by the successful
showing of Sni-a-Bar stock in market
classes and by sales Of similar cattle
on the market.
The demonstration shows clearly
that breeding is dominant factor in
the production of high-quality beeves
and that good feeding and manage
ment will not return best results I'M
less the element of good breeding is
present also.
In grading up farm cattle the quail
ity of calves is approximately in pro-
portion to the individual excellence
of the sires used. hence the impor-
lance of selecting bulls possessing
qualities sought for in the offspring.