12 Bulletin 827, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Few men in each county owned sufficient numbers of cows to in- 

 duce them to purchase a bull and only the most progressive men 

 have been purchasers. 



Before the introduction of pure-bred bulls, improvement by se- 

 lection was usually a negative quantity, the cow herds being topped 

 for market. Where grading up with good bulls is now being prac- 

 ticed, however, the selection of the cow herd has been given con- 

 sideration and the herds are being culled each year instead of topped. 



With more attention to farming, methods of management have 

 been improved, especially in the matter of providing winter feed 

 and forage. Since the introduction of velvet beans practically all 

 farmers are providing winter forage. Better management in other 

 respects usually has resulted from the introduction of better blood. 



NATIVE CATTLE FOR FOUNDATION HERDS. 



Men familiar with the early western ranges state that the Piney 

 Woods cows are equal to or superior to the native Texas cows, from 

 which a very high grade of cattle has been evolved. That the na- 

 tive cows are well adapted to grading up through the use of pure- 

 bred bulls has been demonstrated in every case where a good bull 

 has been used. • 



The improvement is very marked in the first cross as to uniform- 

 ity in both color and type. There is a marked change in the width, 

 depth, and size of bone, the first cross resulting in an animal being 

 closer to the ground and more nearly the beef type in every respect. 

 The hardiness of the native cattle has become fixed to such a degree 

 that there is little doubt that this quality is transmitted to some ex- 

 tent to grade animals produced by crossing the cows with pure-bred 

 bulls. 



In Louisiana 500 head of first-cross " weaners " in one bunch were 

 observed. These calves were from pure-bred Hereford bulls out of 

 native cows of all colors. The calves were as uniform in color and 

 type as could be desired and they had the general appearance of 

 beef animals. The same results from smaller numbers were observed 

 in every section of the Piney Woods. 



In Alabama one breeder has been grading up by the use of a pure- 

 bred bull for the last 15 years and his herd of 178 head of grade 

 Herefords now ranges from one-half to fifteen-sixteenths pure bred. 

 Practically half of his herd could hardly be distinguished from 

 pure breds. The records of these cattle have been followed closely. 

 The yearlings now produced from high-grade cows weigh 200 pounds 

 more than native yearlings under the same conditions as to pasture 

 and feed. The increase in weight has been brought about by the 

 continued use of a pure-bred sire and the proper selection and culling 

 of females. 



