130 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THOROUGHBRED STOCK FOR PROFIT. 



BY A. N. WOODRUFF. 

 (Read at Berrien Institute.) 



By thoroughbred stock we mean established breeds, — breeds that have been 

 bred to some certain line for years. Short-horn and Holstein cattle, Percheron 

 or Clydesdale horses, Merino sheep or Berkshire swine are notable examples 

 of our ideas relative to this point. 



Most men who engage in stock-raising do so to secure profits. There may 

 be some who raise thoroughbred stock simply to please their fancy ; if so they 

 are the exception, for the great majority of breeders of pure bred stock do so 

 with the thought and idea of enhancing their annual profits. How these can 

 be best secured ? What initiatory steps shall be taken in this fascinating field 

 of stock raising? What breed or breeds shall be raised? are questions that 

 come to every one who contemplates engaging in raising thoroughbred stock. 

 There are some necessary conditions that must be plainly visible, of which the 

 breeder must be fully conscious, or the profits will doubtless be very meagre. 



A love for the business as well as for the profits, and an admiration for 

 choice animals regardless of breeds or owners, are some of these conditions. 



To any one who likes to care for stock, who likes to feed them, and who 

 likes to see them eat, the rearing of thoroughbred stock offers one of the most 

 inviting fields of labor that is within reach of the ordinary farmer. 



Though a great diversity of opinion exists in reference to the relative merits 

 of the various breeds, still there are some truths so potent in their infl.ueuce, 

 so self-evident in their nature, and so universal in their application that they 

 can be safely followed by any and all. 



In selecting a breed choose one suited to your circumstances, to your con- 

 ditions, and, other things being equal, to the wants of your locality. 



In commencing buy only choice specimens. It is better to pay good prices 

 for good stock than to buy common ones cheaply, or to have inferior stock 

 given to you. Be sure that you have a taste for the business, that you admire 

 good stock, that you are willing and anxious to learn more of the principles of 

 breeding and feeding, that you have an earnest desire to excel in whatever 

 you undertake to do, and a ''thirst'' for a greater knowledge of stock, and of 

 the management of the same. Being possessed with these qualifications, select 

 some breed that you admire particularly, that seems adapted to your locality, 

 and that is likely to be wanted over a wide extent of country. This will 

 require thought and careful consideration. Having chosen the breed, take a 

 personal interest in it. Be confident "your breed" is a desirable one for 

 certain purposes, basing your confidence on facts, well-grounded and undis- 

 putable, and then strive to make it worthy of your expectations. 



There is a great deal of stock literature published, and to be successful as a 

 breeder of pure-bred stock, it is well to have some knowledge of the litera- 

 ture pertaining to "your breed." The more the better. 



A man may have a choice herd of pure-bred stock, possessed with abundant 

 means, and yet be unable to handle them at a profit. 



To illustrate : I once knew a man who purchased a trio of choice Short- 

 horn cattle. The bull proved to be a shy breeder ; one of the cows was not 

 only a bad but a "high kicker," and the other cow would jump any ordinary 



