666 PRACTICAL PROBLEMS 



at long prices from the herds of those who were wise enough 

 to protect themselves and make everything taut while the storm 

 might last, but who continued in business against the day when 

 the market would again want the produce of their herds. 



When the herd is reduced at such a time, and it must be 

 reduced, it is the young and unproved stuff that should be 

 sacrificed first, and it is marvelous how much can be sold off 

 without disturbing the real nucleus or producing part of the herd. 



If the herd is not all the breeder could desire, such a time is 

 the most favorable opportunity that will ever appear to perfect 

 the herd by purchase. This is the time to gather in the mothers 

 and the grandmothers of the breed from other herds, keep them 

 out of the butcher's hand, and set them at work ; and about 

 the time they have produced another generation, their former 

 owners, or other equally anxious purchasers, will be ready to pay 

 more for a calf than the tested dam and sire both cost. Every 

 one who has lived long among breeders has seen this stampede 

 out of the business followed by an equally insane tumble into it. 

 The solid breeder will hold himself well together at such a time 

 and avail himself of the opportunity both to improve his herd 

 and to reap an assured harvest later on. 



SECTION VII RECORDS 



One of the requirements of all good breeding operations is 

 an accurate system of records, covering every important detail, 

 leaving nothing to memory. Moreover, the record should be 

 made on the spot. 



Herd records. Simple records of all purchases, sales, births, 

 and deaths are matters of ordinary business accounts and inven- 

 tory, but in addition to these there should be kept what may be 

 known as the performance record of the herd. This consists of 

 three distinctly separate features : 



i. An accurate description in writing of every individual ani- 

 mal of the herd, taken not only at maturity but at birth or time 

 of purchase, and as often thereafter as changes in development 

 occur. Such a record should be a descriptive history of the in- 

 dividual from birth to death, or at least to disposal, accompanied 



