PROFIT OF INTELLIGENT BREEDING. 19 



The importance of using thorough-bred sires impresses 

 itself upon the mind of every thoughtful stock-grower. 



Our native cattle have no uniformity : they are made up 

 of incongruities in size, shape, color, and quality. They 

 have no fixed or permanent character, but possess various 

 qualities of blood, with no particular characteristics which 

 can be depended upon. 



By the use of a thorough-bred bull with a fixed character 

 and blood, his blood will be thoroughly infused into his off- 

 spring, so that they will partake of his own quality and 

 appearance. Let this course be repeated upon the next gen- 

 eration, and the blood will become stronger in them, till, by 

 continued crossing, the thorough-bred blood is shown in the 

 progeny, beyond dispute, to the inexperienced eye. As to 

 the pecuniary advantages derived from this course of breed- 

 ing, there can be no question. One writer says that there is 

 a difference of two hundred pounds of meat in a steer at three 

 or four years old, in favor of the use of thorough-bred bulls, 

 worth at least ten dollars; and, in fact, such a steer will often 

 sell for fifteen dollars, or more, more than a common steer. 

 And, if there may be so much more profit in individual 

 cases, who can compute the addition made to the amount of 

 meat, if this manner of breeding were pursued all over the 

 country? Further proof of the increased profit to be obtained, 

 if this manner of breeding were pursued, can be seen in the 

 fact, that, of the number of cattle exported from this coun- 

 try in 1878, the Spanish stock sent to Cuba, and numbering 

 one-half of the whole, were valued at seventeen dollars per 

 head, or $683,000 ; at the same time three-tenths were sent 

 to Great Britain, valued at ninety-seven dollars per head, 

 and a total of 82,408,000. 



These facts convince us of the importance of securing 

 proper animals to breed from ; but, having done this, much 

 depends upon the manner of feeding the } r oung stock. Stock 

 fattened from birth will make the most profit when slaugh- 

 tered at two years or two years and a half old. Good judg- 

 ment, care, and skill are required, in order to meet with the 

 fullest success. The Western feeders have certain advan- 

 tages over us, that ought to be counterbalanced by a better 

 system in the East. 



It is said to be an established fact that the young animal 



