306 BOAED OF AGRICULTUrvE, 



Mr. George W. Thomas: We would have to go to a gi-eat deal more 

 trouble to get to the foundation of our pedigrees. We would have to 

 look up our imported cows through the pedigrees. We now get these 

 through our histories of imported cattle. According to a rule of our 

 association everything has to trace to imported cows before they can be 

 entered in our herd book. That rule would have to be changed. It seems 

 to me, however, the main trouble would be in getting at the foundation 

 of our pedigrees. We get that through our histories, and I don't see how 

 we could, without a great deal of work, get the facts unless we refer to 

 those imported cows. I don't see that it would shorten the pedigrees 

 much to drop the reference to the imported cows. 



Mr. Walter Quick: Mr. Lockridge has said that the only way to do 

 this is by tabulation. However, he said that is impossible in the Herd 

 Book, because it would make five books instead of one. That being the 

 case, if we can not have a whole loaf it does seem desirable to take what 

 we can get. We would aid the herd book solution if we would drop any 

 part of the pedigrees. There would be something gained in printing by 

 dropping the imported cows. I doubt not Colonel Harris has considered 

 this ca:-efully, and when he made that recommendation he probably took 

 into consideration the fact that it would be impossible to print the pedi- 

 grees tabulated. Therefore it seems to me it Vs'ould not be inadvisable for 

 this association to pass a resolution giving the sense of this association 

 and of the Indiana breeders along this line. This would be a recommenda- 

 tion to the American Association. A start has to be made some place. 

 This will set people to thinking about the matter, and may lead to having 

 the books printed eventually in the way Mr. Lockiidge spoke of. It might 

 also lead eventually to the dropping of the name of the imported cow. 

 It is time we got rid of that old fallacy. I have in mind to offer the 

 following resolution: 



"Resolved, That the Indiana Short-horn Breeders' Association, in its 

 annual convention assembled, recommend to the American Short-horn 

 Herd Book Association a modification of the present form of recording 

 pedigrees, and that final reference or tracing to imported cows (naming tlie 

 cow) be eliminated." 



Mr. Donley: I am a beginner in the business of breeding short-hoi'n 

 cattle, but I am in favor of following the old adage which says, "Let every 

 tub stand on its own bottom." We new breeders who go to sales and see 

 Mr. Robbins or Mrs. Meredith, or some person we regard as a good judge 

 of short-horns, giving two or three times as much for an animal referring 

 back to an imported cow as they Avill for one that does not so trace back. 

 I have had men say to me, "Donley, is this a pure Scotch heifer?" and if 

 I said it was they would slap on two or tlu'ee bids, while they would be 

 ready to quit nt flint tinio if it was not a pure Scotch animal. 



