LIVE STOCK breeders' ASSOCIATION. l6l 



could be placed lengthwise in front of that already on, which will serve 

 the purpose in showing at a glance she is not of your own breeding, 

 even if her individuality does not show itself. 



When the animal from the herd is sold or transferred to that of 

 another, with the tattoo marks or horn number both on the certified copy 

 of the pedigree and the animal, it is but another safeguard thrown around 

 our business. 



IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING RECORDS. 



Second — Better kept records. On this subdivision of "Needed 

 Home Improvements" too much cannot be rightly said, since it is a 

 matter of such vital importance to the industry. And representing as it 

 does the heart and vitals of it, we cannot be too careful of the records. 

 The certified pedigrees should be furnished by the seller and is, of 

 course, accepted as final. It should be carefully copied into your own 

 record and the number given the animal placed opposite the name and 

 branded on the horn. But if the animal is purchased without a certi- 

 fied pedigree and the seller refuses to furnish it, the purchaser should 

 send to the association, inclosing 25 cents, and get one. And in so 

 doing, I will venture the assertion that you will find an error in at least 

 one in five, and sometimes as many as four in ten. And this does not 

 result in any dishonest motives, either. For the changes are not fre- 

 quently of such importance as to materially change the value of the an- 

 imal, but are more the result of carelessness on the part of compilers 

 and printers. Nevertheless, if you are to keep your records, you should 

 have them straight to begin with. 



Then the produce columns should be as carefully kept as the calves 

 placed there on the date of their birth. Their tattoo numbers put on 

 record and their sales, or death, noted the same way. By the careful 

 use of these two things a man can lose a herdsman, or even die, and 

 know that his heirs or adminstrators can take up his business and carry 

 it on or close it at will. 



And in addition to this I would keep a book, just as your merchant 

 does in his business. I would enter the name and number of the animal, 

 date of purchase, whom bought of, price paid, freight and expense. 

 Then I would charge her with so much a year for keep and give her 

 credit for every calf, either sold or retained, in the herd. And in that 

 way you can know at any time just what she is doing for you, or do- 

 ing you for. If not profitable, you will know what to do more quickly 

 than by the old guessing system so much in vogue. 



A— 11 



