LIVE STOCK BREEDERS. 



149 



Xothincr is more important to breeders of thoroughbred stock 

 than a reliable pedigree from a responsible breeder. A reliable pedigree 

 must come from a reliable and honest breeder. Such cannot or Avill 

 not come from a careless, negligent, or untruthful person, and a reliable 

 pedigee must come from an honest, truthful and responsible party. A 

 responsible or reliable breeder will not under any circumstances mis- 

 represent the breeding or individuality of an animal (knowingly) in 

 making a pedigree. There is no breeder who should not feel a great 



One of Mr. Axline's Herd Boars. 



responsibility when making a pedigree. A true pedigree depends al- 

 together on a person's honesty and ability and his knowledge of the 

 individual and its ancestors. There should be no guess work in mak- 

 ing a true pedigree. All things pertaining to the individual and the 

 ancestors should be a matter of record and a person's recollections 

 should not be depended on for anything. It is true some can remember 

 a great deal, and might write true pedigrees from memory, but I do 

 not consider this a safe way, and not reliable. All dates, marking, 

 number in litters and color should be a matter of record, and memory 

 should not be depended on for anything. An animal cannot have but 

 one true pedigree. I have been a breeder of Poland Chinas for over 

 twenty years, during this time I have seen a few hogs (Poland China^) 

 with more than one pedigree. A case when one animal was owned by 

 several parties at different times, each owner would give a pedigree 

 of his own regardless of its true breeding. As an illustration: Several 

 years ago I sold a very fine individual, but plain bred sow to a brother 

 breeder in a neighboring state. She had been bred to my best boar on 

 a certain date. Shortly after I sold her, I attended a combination sale 

 in this neighbor state in which the party that bought my sow had a con- 



