BREEDING OF STOCK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18761, 27 December 1930, Page 10

BREEDING OF STOCK

OBSOLETE METHODS. Dr J. B. Mohler, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, speaking' of the value of modern methods in livestock breeding, says:—“You can attend an automobile show, and later purchase almost anywhere an exact duplicate of the car you want, and as many as you may need—or can pay for. In the case of livestock, this is not true. Animals are not so nearly alike, though specimens of uniformly high quality can be produced and are being produced to a very creditable extent. The average quality, however, is still far below the ideal. From a study of an available data I consider that more than 50 per cent, of our domestic breeding stock is obsolete from the standpoint of most efficient production. I am confident that the estimate is conservative.” Dr. Mohler distinguishes three types of obsolete animals: Those that continually fail to repay the cost of maintenance; scrub and grade sires and inferior types of pure-bred sires; and animals affected with communicable diseases. He said there are millions of such animals. Livestock growers who follow obsolete methods include those who take slight interest in improving their stock, and those who are prevented by adverse circumstances.