BIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS 



attention needs to be paid to the fine points that determine 

 the appearance of the animal and therefore its sale. Pure- 

 bred animals that make a low score in the show ring often 

 perform as well or better than the prize winners when used 

 for crossbreeding. 



At the present stage of our knowledge it is impossible to 

 state with any high degree of accuracy the comparative 

 value of the different strains of the major breeds when they 

 are used for crossing. This can be determined only by trial, 

 and it is important that the animals be tested and kept up 

 to a definite standard of performance. Once a good com- 

 bination is found, there is evidence to show that it will 

 continue to give equally satisfactory results. 



Finally, as Wentworth says: "Development of a system 

 of crossbreeding would create a wider demand for purebred 

 animals than we have at present, would eliminate much 

 of the cost of development of purebreds since relatively 

 few would ever have to pass good breeding condition, and 

 would make improvement in livestock type more than 

 ever the work of specialists. The general adoption of a 

 system of crossbreeding would result in a better quality 

 of breeding animals on the general farm, a better quality of 

 commercial animals, cheaper production costs, and a more 

 accurate reflection of market values in purebred values."^ 



In many parts of the world meat is a luxury and will 

 probably become increasingly so. Since it takes several 

 pounds of plant material to make a pound of meat, countries 

 that are densely populated rely principally upon food 

 from plants. The cereal grains combine nutritive value 

 with high production and convenient storage. In Asia, 

 rice has been the mainstay of the most people, just as in 

 America maize, in Africa millo maize, and in Europe wheat, 

 have been the leading crops. Wheat is the outstanding 



1 Record of Proceedings, American Society of Animal Production, Annual Meetings, 

 1925-1926, p. 47. 



[348] 



