LECTUKES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 277 



as important here as in breeding pure-bred stock, and from motives of econ- 

 omy may not always be obtained, but it is a fact that the best bred bulls, 

 those satisfactory for use in the best thoroughbred herds, will make the great- 

 est improvement in grading up common stock, so that pedigree is of value 

 here. Many w'll say, "I care nothing for pedigree, give me the animal." 

 This is a mistake. It is well known, even with the highest bred animals, that 

 extraordinary qualities, those far above the average of the breed, are seldom 

 transmitted, but that the best results come from those that possess all the 

 ■essential points combined, with an ancestry that possessed them also. Here is 

 the value of pedigree. There is abroad a very superficial idea regarding pedi- 

 grees. A pedigree is not alone a long list of ancestry with high sounding 

 names. It represents value, qualities, pure-breeding, and the longest list where 

 all the ancestry were of the best with no impure or unworthy mixture. The 

 more valuable the pedigree, the animal is more prepotent, and consequently 

 more valuable; and here is a point regarding the age of breeds. It is some- 

 times contended for a breed that it is of great age, that it is a race, if that 

 has any stronger meaning ; but take up the history of any of our improved 

 breeds of cattle, and though some of them claim great age, yet they all date 

 the improvement from the beginning of selection for breeding and proper care 

 in feeding, which, with the oldest, is but a century back ; and this selection 

 was the origin and the beginning of pedigrees, and they are inseparable 

 from any great improvement. A breeder of ordinary stock will have his 

 herd book, though he may keep it in his own mind, and you will find many an 

 old farmer who will laugh at the modern breeder's estimate of pedigrees, who 

 has in his own yard cattle that he will tell you he values, because he has bred 

 them and their ancestors for years back, and that particular strain never failed 

 to be valuable. 



In reference to thoroughbred cattle, I hear many say, " select the animal, and 

 after that the pedigree." I would say select the pedigree first, for it is the 

 most important point in individual merit, and then see that the animal in all 

 his points is worthy of his pedigree. A plain animal, or one with no striking 

 points, but with all the characteristic qualities of the breed to which he 

 belongs and a choice pedigree, will generally breed well, while a fine looking 

 animal with exceptional points and a poor pedigree will often fail. For pur- 

 poses of improvement, pedigree as well as individual excellence should repre- 

 sent usefulness. For the beef breeds it should practically read, " Sire and 

 grand-sire, dam and grand-dam weighed 1500 and 1200 pounds respectively at 

 two to two and one-half years old. Of Ayrshires and Holsteins it should 

 represent pounds of milk for the year, and with the Jersey, pounds of butter. 

 There are, of course, other points, in size, form, and character. We want 

 good looking as well as useful cattle; but this point of utility is the main one. 

 I speak of this particularly because some breeders of pure-bred cattle have 

 switched off after color, or black points, or no horns, as the main item, culti- 

 vating the special to the neglect of the general qualities. Another point is 

 good constitution. Some pure-bred stock is lacking in this essential point. 

 High feeding of breeding stock on fattening food, close confinement with lack 

 of exercise contribute to weaken much of our choice stock and make them 

 valueless for purposas of improvement. It is true tliat the highest improve- 

 ment necessarily demands higher conditions and more favorable surroundings, 

 because they are one of the sources of improvement and must be kept up in 

 its continuance. Still there need be no trouble in having clioice cattle, strong, 

 vigorous, and prolific; good care and an omission of over care will do it. We 



