468 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



"We must pay more attention to the question of size and vigor in our 

 animals. Size always has and always will be a vital point. It is usually 

 associated with heavy and economical gains. Vigor is absolutely essential. 

 It is associated with heavy gains and also helps to safeguard the animal 

 in time of disease outbreaks. One of the chief causss for deterioration 

 in both size and vigor of our animals is the use of immature sires and 

 dams for breeding purposes. While both sire and dam exert an influence, 

 it has been clearly proved that the immature dam is the most detrimental 

 to progeny. The continued use of immature sires and dams, especially 

 where corn rations are fed, will seriously reduce both the size and vigor 

 of any breed or class of live stock. Anything which lessens the size 

 and vigor of the animal renders it less profitable on high-priced land. 

 Too much attention can not be given to the importance of selecting breed- 

 ing s'ock from mature parents. In this way, and only in this way, can 

 we retain size and vigor in our herds and flocks. 



DKAFT HORSES. 



The man who succeeds in breeding draft horses must ever keep In 

 mind size, quality, feet, legs, and action. These are all utility points. 

 The markets demand horses weighing 1,700 pounds and upwards tnat 

 have good body conformation, large feet of good texture, strong, clean 

 bone; large, sound joints; heavy muscular development, combined with 

 good straight, snappy action. Such horses command high prices and 

 are very scarce. Th*.' statistics for the year 1911 show that one horse 

 out of every twenty, sold at our leading horse markets, filled the bill. 

 This is surely a good line of work to pursue for many years to come. 

 The vast majority of our farmers make a serious mistake when they sell 

 their good draft mares to go to the cities. A good draft mare is worth 

 twice as much on any farm, if she is used for work and breeding purposes, 

 as she will sell for in any horse market. Only mares of good weight, 

 gcod body conformation, that are absolutely sound should be retained for 

 breeding purposes. It is very important that the stallion used should be 

 sound and diafty, stand well on his feet and legs, short and straight 

 in his back, heavily muscled, and show good dis^^osition as indicated by 

 width and flatness of head between the eyes. Avoid unsound, small-footed 

 light-boned, crooked-legged or shallow-bodied stallions. 



BEEF CATTLE. 



The profitable beef animal of the future must have size, large heart 

 girth and middle, giving constitution and capacity. He must also be low 

 set, straight in his lines, heavy in the quarters, wide in the back and 

 loin, and carry a good covering of natural flesh over these parts. The 

 head must be short and wide between the eyes, the neck short and shoul- 

 ders smooth on the sides and wide on top. Width on the top of shoulders 

 goes with good fleshing properties th'oughout. The hide should be soft 

 and pliable. These are all utility points We must ever keep the block 

 type in mind, because the block Is the ultimate end of all beef cattle. 



