FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 137 



this fact. One of the important things to be learned is what to feed and 

 how to feed it that the best results can be obtained. The loss sustained 

 in not knowing what kind of feed is best, and in not feeding it judiciously, 

 cannot be accurately estimated, but it is enough that careful attention 

 to the matter should be given by every breeder who expects to make a 

 success in stock breeding. 



I have endeavored in this paper to call attention to matters affecting 

 stock breeding that seem to me to be important. I have advocated the 

 breeding of what I call general purpose animals, because I believe the 

 most money lies in that direction to the average farmer and breeder, and 

 partly to call out discussion. 



DISCUSSION. 

 LED BY H. GAYLORD HOLT, CASCADE. 



I find nothing to criticise in Mr. Ball's paper, but feel like impressing 

 upon the minds of the audience the good points. The paper was written 

 by one who has tested by practice what he preached to us this morning. 

 But were I to begin breeding any of the thoroughbred sorts of cattle or 

 sheep or swine, I would fix in my mind an ideal animal of the kind, 

 Avhether for beef, general purposes or for dairy, and so on; then having 

 fixed my ideal, I would work up to that ideal just as fast as possible, 

 and I would have a uniform herd of cattle, sheep, swine — even of poultry. 

 This is not so easily done with horses. Few of us live to breed many 

 generations of horses, but with cattle it is easily done. Many of us, per- 

 haps most of us, occasionally -raise a horse or a colt, and in doing 

 that I should always breed from those that are perfect, and as the 

 pai»er said, as near as possible to the size and conformation of the ideal. 

 Then I should feel that I was quite sure of making a success of my under- 

 taking. With cattle or sheep or swine, the matter is by no means dif- 

 ferent. After having selected my ideal, my model, and trying to work 

 up to it, for the herd, I should keep for my motto, ''Uniformity." I 

 should do this for my own satisfaction, and because I believe that a herd 

 of cattle, uniform in color and make up, I care not what the breed, would 

 not only be a greater satisfaction to me, but be more remunerative. 



In buying, where 1 find the same color and form in a herd, I say to 

 myself, "If I buy three or four heifers here, I know pretty nearly what 

 I am to get. I will pay more money for them, but I will be better pleased 

 in caring for them." I would carry that rule all through my stock breed- 

 ing, if I could have my way. I would select from tjie same family, if 

 possible, and I would carry this clear through all the stock on the farm — 

 clear down to the hens. 



In regard to the feeding of stock; Mr. Ball has referred to that. He 

 says the breed alone will not fill the bill; they must be properly fed. I 

 believe this. Take a colt and feed him grain and the best hay the first 

 and second year, and he will always be a fat horse, with decent usage, 

 and I believe the same thing is true with a calf. Grow it the first winter, 

 the second winter feed it a little more, not overloading it, but grow it as 

 rapidly as possible, and you will always have something nice, if it was 

 nice to start with. 

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