EFFORTS TO INCREASE FOOD RESOURCES 



better classes of non-pedigreed livestock, are often some- 

 what lacking in vigor, rapidity of growth, and fecundity, 

 three very important considerations from the standpoint 

 of the man on the farm who is making his living by 

 producing meat and milk, wool and eggs. The very qualities 

 which close mating unavoidably brings in are counteracted 

 by crossing. Prolificacy, hardiness, and rapid growth are 

 the outstanding features of crossbreds. In hybrid vigor 

 there is a very real help towards increased production. 

 Why not use it? 



"There are several reasons why crossing is not more 

 generally practiced than it is. In the first place, the breeders 

 and sellers of purebred livestock discourage crossing. 

 Nearly all writers on animal breeding see so clearly the 

 absolute necessity of maintaining the invaluable pure 

 breeds of livestock which we now have, and of making them 

 still better, that they minimize the real benefit to be de- 

 rived from crossing the breeds for production purposes. 

 They hesitate to say anything which to them looks like 

 breaking down that system which has had everything 

 to do with building up the livestock industry to the high 

 plane on which it exists to-day. The time is at hand when 

 a broader viewpoint should be taken. The foundation 

 work of creating the breeds has been done and done well, 

 but there is still a great deal lacking."^ 



A more general use of crossbreeding would mean a 

 larger demand for purebred stock. Little is to be gained by 

 crossing animals that are not closely selected and uniform 

 in their breeding behavior. Furthermore, registered live- 

 stock, when used for this purpose, can be more closely inbred 

 than it now is. Some loss in size and vigor will occur, but 

 the resulting crossbreds will in most cases be improved in 

 uniformity and will lack nothing in ability to grow. Less 



^ Jones, Donald Forsha, "Genetics in Plant and Animal Improvement," pp. 

 521-522, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1925. 



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