90 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



bred cow is mated with a scrub bull, only one 

 animal is a half breed. In the case noted, 20 of 

 them are half blood. This shows the extreme neces- 

 sity of having a pure-bred sire. By constantly 

 using a pure-bred sire, it can be easily shown that 

 the sixth generation contains 98.44 per cent of 

 purity and only 1.56 per cent of unimproved blood. 

 This sixth generation is practically pure-bred. The 

 unimproved blood becomes insignificant and rapidly 

 disappears. This is why, in the early days of a 

 breed, the sixth or seventh generation is considered 

 eligible to record. It must be remembered that if 

 grades are used, absolutely no progress is made. 

 For example, if half bloods are bred to half bloods, 

 half bloods will be produced indefinitely. The 

 progress in grading ceases as soon as the pure-bred 

 sire is discontinued. 



It is, therefore immensely important, in fact, al- 

 most a violation of one of the cardinal principles of 

 live stock husbandry, to use anything but a pure- 

 bred sire. Those not thoroughly informed are apt 

 to be misled by the fact that occasionally a half 

 blood sire is a splendid individual and to all out- 

 ward appearances is superior to many pure-bred 

 males. With the above in mind, however, it can 

 be seen how exceedingly foolish it is to breed from 

 anything but an animal of pure blood if improve- 

 ment is expected and desired. 



For practical purposes, many grades are just as 

 satisfactory and as profitable as pure-bred animals. 

 This is the cheering thought where herd improve- 

 ment is desired by people of moderate means. 

 Anyone visiting central live stock markets knows 

 that the bulk of the offspring of fat stock is grades. 

 Grades can be produced cheaply when fattened and 

 disposed of at the slaughterhouses. The meat is, 



