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the producers; it has helped more than any other one thing to 

 make these islands self-supporting, but it has been accomplished 

 by large outlays of money and the untiring efforts of the breed- 

 ers and they will only receive the fullest returns on their invest- 

 ments when they are paid on a basis of quality in the meat wdiich 

 they produce. 



It is very doubtful whether at the present time the most eco- 

 nomical methods of feeding are being followed. Certain it is 

 that the results of the dressed carcass contests recently held 

 clearly demonstrate that corn, at the present market prices, 

 cannot be- profitably converted into meat. Considering that the 

 best grass fed cattle here compare very favorably with the 

 best stall fed cattle on the mainland, both in dressing percent- 

 age and quality of flesh, and considering the great demand for 

 wheat substitutes, it is hardly justifiable to feed grain for meat 

 production. 



The ultimate object of every breeder of market animals is the 

 production of more and better meat ; to be able to market two 

 animals of higher quality where one was marketed before. This 

 is to be accomplished not by carrying a larger number of animals 

 but by raising heavier, earlier-maturing animals showing a high 

 degree of quality and this will naturally follow rigid selection 

 of breeding stock. Only those sires should be used whose sym- 

 metry to form and outstanding points of quality and pure breed- 

 ing fill the eye of the breeder and who have above all the ability 

 to transmit these points to the largest number of his offspring. 

 Theoretically, the progeny should inherit its characters in equal 

 proportion from each parent, but practically this rarely if ever 

 happens and it is the sire we look to for the upbuilding and im- 

 provement of the herd. 



The measure of the breeder's success will be accurately re- 

 corded in the performance, if this term may be so used, of his 

 stock at the abattoir and on the block. Here it will be noticed 

 whether excessive waste has been eliminated and whether or 

 not an evenly balanced, well nourished carcass carrying a high 

 percentage of most valuable cuts has been produced. It will 

 also show the lines along which improvement should be made. 

 These records should not be overlooked by breeders as they offer 

 a most valuable help in the improvement of the herd. There is 

 an old saying that "the proof of the pudding is in the eating," 

 and it is equally true that the proof of the improvement in the 

 market class of live stock is in the quality of the dressed carcass 

 produced. 



A beginning has already been made in the collection of data 

 on the above-mentioned points upon which a standard of ex- 

 cellence may be based and interesting results have even now been 

 obtained. As time goes on much valuable data will be obtained 

 which should be taken advantage of by every breeder. 



