576 SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 



our most intelligent and successful farmers, breeders and feeders, as well 

 as expert buyers, packing house owners and conveyers, are all on the 

 side of the pure bred or the high grade animal as being consistent money 

 makers on the farm. The above argument applies to the production of 

 the commercial products in its live state and forms the basis for our con- 

 tentions with reference to the advisability of making the breeding of pure 

 bred, recorded stock a part of our farm business. 



The fact that it requires the pure bred or high grade animal to acquire 

 the results above mentioned argues the absolute necessity of the 

 perpetuity of the pure bred animal for breeding purposes, else, in a very 

 few short years we will find ourselves scarce of this vitalizing material. 

 The natural tendencies of all improved animals and plants are to deterior- 

 ate unless cultivated and given congenial environments and opportunities 

 for improvement and development. Man himself is no exception to this 

 rule. The truth of these statements points the moral that there will 

 always be a demand for pure bred breeding animals such as will insure 

 the producers of the good kind a profitable market. But, I fancy, some- 

 one inquires, "Where does the economy in breeding pure bred stock 

 come in?" Speaking from my own experience and a very wide field 

 of observation I can say that the farmer who breeds and grows pure bred 

 animals, taking as a basis the average of the sales the country over, real- 

 izes from two to ten times as much per head for the surplus product of 

 the herd, the relative increased amount depending upon the quality breed- 

 ing, condition, etc., of his animals, than does his neighbor farmer who 

 breeds common stock. 



Then I would ask: "Is it not more economical to shelter and feed 

 «ne animal that will do the work of from two to ten, than it is to house 

 and feed the larger number? We say yes and can point to innumerable 

 instances to prove the assertion. Now as to the educational advantages 

 to be derived from keeping pure bred stock. No sooner is the first pure 

 bred animal placed upon the farm than the educational influences are set 

 to work. The neighborhood gossip is at once turned to something bet- 

 ter and which stands for improvement. The local paper, if it does its 

 duty, announces the advent into the community of an animal of improved 

 breed and type. As a result of all this the owner and his family begin 

 to realize a degree of pride in the fact that it has been imposed upon 

 them to be leaders instead of followers in their community. In order to 

 maintain this enviable and commendable position they begin to read up 

 and keep themselves informed with reference to the history of the breed, 

 its ancestry and other matters pertaining to care, feed, management, etc., 

 to the end that that their life and vision becomes broadened by being 

 brought into touch with progressive movements of the times. 



Soon the agricultural college and the courses in live stock husbandry 

 are learned of, finally the son or father or both, takes advanatge of the 

 short course in live stock judging and thus a new world is opened up. 

 After that fairs are attended and the awarding of prizes is watched with 

 awakened interest. By this time our candidate is associating himself 

 with the best class of men, whom he finds congenial company because 



