Cut-Over Pine Lands in the South. 11 



young cattle during their first 2 winters, and they become so stunted 

 that it requires 1 or 2 years longer to reach mature size than it 

 would if they were supplied feed for continuous growth. A grow- 

 ing animal subjected to such annual periods of semistarvation takes 

 much longer to reach mature size. The experience may be so 

 rigorous as seriously to affect its health and vigor. Then, again, 

 this period of semistarvation comes at a time when cows are heavy 

 with calf, and as a result calves are not so strong when dropped 

 as they would be if their dams were in good condition. 



Cows are left to wean their calves and it is not uncommon to see a 

 cow suckling a yearling. No separation is made of heifers and bulls, 

 and as a result the former are allowed to " take up " and drop calves 

 when under age and undersized. Breeding immature heifers seri- 

 ously retards their growth and final development, and there is con- 

 siderable evidence that the continuation of such a practice will 

 eventually reduce the size of the animals in a herd. Under such a 

 system there has been continual inbreeding, but the comparative 

 effect of inbreeding on size and quality no doubt has been over- 

 emphasized in many cases. Inbreeding tends to intensify bad points, 

 but it also intensifies desirable points, and possibly the intensification 

 of the hardiness of the animals has offset any bad effects under natu- 

 ral selection. 



" Topping " or selecting the best cattle for sale instead of culling 

 has tended to decrease size and quality. This practice has been fol- 

 lowed especially in Florida, where for a great many years the bulls 

 were " topped " for export to Cuba for fighting purposes. It has 

 had a very marked effect on the native cattle of Florida, as they are 

 noticeably smaller and of a quality inferior to those of other sec- 

 tions of the Piney Woods to the north and west. 



WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN IMPROVING NATIVE CATTLE. 



The greatest step leading to the improvement of the native cattle 

 has been the eradication of the cattle tick. In ticky country the im- 

 portation of a pure-bred bull from tick-free territory is almost sure 

 to be followed by death from tick fever, on exposure to native cattle 

 or open pasture. Following the local county and State-wide dipping 

 of cattle, the clanger of death from tick fever is practically elimi- 

 nated. The eradication of the ticks has also greatly improved the 

 thrift of the native cattle and allows better utilization of the pastures. 

 The cattle tick has been a great handicap and the advantages of its 

 eradication could be enumerated at great length. It is sufficient to 

 say that the tick is disappearing rapidly and the beneficial results 

 are being demonstrated and recognized. 



Although the value of pure-bred bulls for improving the native 

 cattle was generally recognized, their number has increased slowly. 



