EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 353 



METHODS OF BREEDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF MICHI- 

 GAN CATTLE. 



Circular No. 4. 



This publication has been prepared to call attention to the urgent need 

 for the adoption of improved methods of live stock breeding in Michigan, 

 to discuss practical and applicable methods of accomplishing the same 

 and to present specific plans within reach of the stockman and farmer. 

 The first part deals v^ith methods of improving Michigan cattle as de- 

 scribed in bulletin 241, now out of print, and the last part with the 

 establishment of co-operative breeders' associations. 



According to the last state census, dated July 1st, 1904, there were 

 1,744,510 cattle in Michigan, at that time, valued at $36,374,877. The ex- 

 act percentages of registered, cross-bred, grade and scrub cattle are not 

 known, but as not over 1 per cent of the cattle in the United States are 

 registered, Michigan probably does not possess more than her share of 

 these. The total number of pure bred cattle must be small as not over 

 1,500 names of Michigan cattle breeders appear in the various herd 

 books and some of these undoubtedly possess but one registered animal, 

 viz. : a bull. Of course there are some possessed of animals eligible for 

 record whose names do not appear on the books. 



This publication is not addressed to those engaged in pure-bred live 

 stock breeding, but is intended for the great majority in possession of 

 the cross-bred, grade and scrub. The fact that a man owns and is 

 using pedigreed animals is sufficient evidence that he is interested in 

 live stock improvement and is familiar with and practising good methods 

 of breeding. Our producers of registered stock do not receive the sup- 

 port and encouragement they should, for after expending large sums 

 of money to' secure good foundation stocks and years of effort in estab- 

 lishing good herds, their offerings of surplus stock, especially males, do 

 not find a ready sale at sufficiently remunerative prices. It cannot be 

 denied that good bulls are slow sellers in Michigan. The average pro- 

 ducer of meat and milk (not breeder) seems determined not to pay 

 more than about meat prices for registered bulls to infuse improved blood 

 in his herd, but the breeder cannot afford to produce them at such prices. 

 Failing to secure improved males at these low prices many producers fall 

 back on the grade, or even the scrub and frequently combine with this 

 in-and-in breeding, especially where the males are chosen from within 

 the herd. 



Because the producers of live stock other than pure-breds comprise 

 such an overwhelming majority of stock owners, and because they pro- 

 duce the great bulk of the animal products marketed, their influence in 

 determining the character and reputation of Michigan meats and milk 

 is very far reaching. It is in the hands of this class that the scrub and 

 animal of badly mixed breeding are to be found. 

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