LECTURES AND ESSAYS. 491 



attention has been given to milk production it has been well repaid. Hence 

 I repeat, that for the average farmer there is no breed of cattle that can 

 equal the red, white and roan. Assuming these statements to be true, how 

 shall they be bred and how shall they be fed. The improvements in all 

 classes of stock have been made by careful selection in mating, and in sys- 

 tematic and generous feeding, and good and proper care. And as this is 

 true with reference to the improvements that have been made, it is equally 

 true that such a course must still be carried on. 



The law is immutable, that as improvement in breeding any class or breed 

 of animals has been made by proper selection in mating and proper feeding 

 and care through a long succession of trials and experiments, deterioration 

 will as surely follow, and much more rapidly than the improvements were 

 made, by careless selection and a disregard of all the laws and methods 

 adopted in making the animals what they were. The same rules, the same 

 or greater care in selection and methods of feeding and breeding must be 

 observed as formerly in order to still make improvement, or even to hold 

 that which has already been made. There can be no trifling with these laws 

 if the breeder expects to succeed. 



If it is decided that Shorthorns are to be the choice, what families or 

 classes of that breed shall be raised. There are many so-called families 

 among the Shorthorns, but there is no especial difference among many of 

 them. Some bring more money than others because they have been more 

 carefully bred, both as to pedigree and individuality. That animal is best 

 that more nearly fills the requirements of the breeder. Pedigree and indi- 

 vidual excellence should accompany each other ; both should be good. Fancy 

 pedigrees and fancy prices should be used by those who are able to make up 

 for losses in some other way than in breeding cattle. Taking the block as 

 the test, that animal is best that furnishes the greatest amount of choice 

 meat in the least given time with the least expense. Those Shorthorns 

 which can show through their history and lineage the greatest results in this 

 direction, with a strong tendency to transmit these desirable qualities regu- 

 larly and surely to their offspring, are the most profitable for the average 

 breeder. These characteristics are not confined to any particular family, 

 hence the family name should have no particular bearing in selections made 

 for real value. A good combination of beef producing qualities from a 

 variety of these families will, in my judgment, prove of much value. As 

 to pedigree affecting the quality of the cattle, I am strongly of the belief 

 that the last five or six crosses are particularly essential in breeding. One 

 of the best authorities on breeding says to a beginner, eschew fashion, and 

 make utility the sole aim. He should buy cattle, not only good in them- 

 selves, but such as have come of good sorts through recent generations. 

 Pedigree is of the utmost value to him; but he must take care to use it rightly. 

 He must guard against attaching fictitious importance to names and reputa- 

 tions which may have been justified thirty or forty years ago. 



He should certainly try and secure the benefit of such foundation, where 

 recent management has been of the kind to maintain or improve the good 

 qualities of past times. He must remember that the existing qualities of 

 today and the past ten or fifteen years is a matter of prime importance, that 

 the present or recent good qualities as shown in herds at the present day, if 

 produced with skill and good judgment, are among the things to be consid- 

 ered, rather than the reputation of herds great in their day, but which may 



