PROFITABLE STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20600, 26 June 1930, Page 18

PROFITABLE STOCK.

BY H.B.T.

THE LAWS OF NATURE. IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH. BREEDING AND FEEDING. ;

A man with many years' experience in sheepfarming recently remarked that it. was comparatively easy to direct the evolution, or development, of livestock toward a desired ideal. Man lias done much in tho evolution of domesticated animals. Ho has learned how to mould and develop along lines which suit his requirements, and he is by no means at the end of his work in livestock improvement. Indeed, it may be said that ho is just at the beginning in most instances. Tho bodies and organs of animals are perfectly designed, and, given treatment which healthily develops each organ, all parts work in perfect harmony. If we abuso these bodies and neglect their development we are breaking tho first law of Nature. In the development of livestock, tho quantity and quality of tho food, governed by tho demands, and not the appetite of tho individual, play an important part. Wo can breed with the object of physical perfection always as the main consideration. We must, _ when we have achieved this, uso discretion in our feeding of them. Nature designed them and us to take abundant and almost continuous exercise in the search for food. A superabundance of food, even of tho right sort, induces a disinclination to take exercise, which laziness, continued for any considerable period, weakens all tho organs of the body, and paves the way for the establishment of disease. Breeding, Feeding and Exercise. Having bred healthy stock, therefore, by selecting and mating animals of the finest physical development, it is sheer foolishness to undermine that which wc iiavo built up by over-feeding and lack of exercise, as is done in so many of our best flocks and herds to-day. There are only two periods in an animal's life when the farmer caii afford to allow it to become fat: the first when it is growing, and the second when it is being prepared for the butcher's block. At all other times surplus fat is a sign of bad farming. While breeding stock should at all times have sufficient food to maintain them in healthy store condition, they should never bo allowed to become and remain fat. A store animal will tako sufficient exercise to maintain itself in health of its own accord. A fat animal will avoid all forms of activity, and its end is not far distant. All production depends primarily on health, and health depends on correct breeding, feeding and exercise. The livestock breeder, who has thoroughly studied and applied these three, can thereafter make of his animals what ho wishes. Development of Utilities. Apart from the plain facts of a. healthy physique in animals man has many fe<itues to consider, in his control of domestic stock. In the dairy cow ho has to xlcvolo butter-fat production to a high degree and yet maintain tho cow in goou condition for breeding. In some cases there is little doubt that wo have gone too far in the direction of high production and have saciificed the nervous system for tho sake of record yields. This is a matter which deserves and is receiving much attention at tho present timo and tho skilful breeder realises that though lie may reach still higher returns in tho individual animal lie must exercise great care if ho desires to keep laige herds tip to a high standard. It is much the same with sheep. 'ihc main demands now are for a good fleece, a plump shapely body, a quick maturing lamb, and a typo of animal which will remain healthy under a variety of conditions. All this class of work is very interesting and very important and should receive more attention than it is receiving at present.