80 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



Grades Of Tar ions Breeds. The term breed, in its proper meaning, applies only 

 to animals of the same species, possessing, besides the general characteristics of that species, 

 other qualities or characteristics peculiar to themselves, and which they transmit with certainty 

 to their offspring. When these qualities have thus become permanently fixed, then the 

 claim may be well founded that a breed has been established. Grade cattle may be defined 

 as the progeny of any pure breed crossed upon the native stock of the country, or upon any 

 cattle whatever not of its own breed. Hence we have grades of the Short- Horn or Hereford 

 breeds with the native cattle, that make excellent beef; the Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, or 

 Ayrshire for improving the common stock for the dairy; the Devons or Herefords for working 

 cattle; the cross between the Short-Horns and Herefords, etc. Grade is of course a very 

 indefinite term, since it includes the first cross as well as the fourth or fifth, and is also 

 applied to a cross between pure-bred breeds of different kinds, and pure-bred animals and 

 native stock; neither does it indicate how near the grade approaches the thoroughbred. To 

 aid in this respect most breeders and writers have adopted the following progressive scale: 



1st cross produces -J or 50 per cent, thoroughbred. 



2d &quot; &quot; f- or 75 



3d &quot; &quot; | or 87.5 



4th &quot; &quot; 15-16 or 93.75 &quot; 



5th &quot; &quot; 31-32 or 96.875 &quot; 



6th &quot; &quot; 63-64 or 98.437 &quot; 



7th &quot; &quot; 127-128 or 99.218 &quot; 



8th &quot; &quot; 255-256 or 99.609 &quot; 



Flourens arrived at the opinion, after experimenting by crossing the dog and jackal, 

 that the fourth class was practically thoroughbred, the fourth generation of these hybrids, 

 when the dog was the male parent, not being distinguished from the dog, while the fourth 

 cross in the other direction could not be distinguished from the jackal. While for practical 

 purposes, such as the production of beef, a fourth, fifth, or sixth cross of a pure-bred male 

 of the best beef breeds, if properly managed, maybe equal to what are termed thoroughbreds 

 of that breed, still, for breeding purposes, such a grade would be very inferior to the 

 pure-bred animal. 



The more pure blood the animal possesses, or the higher the grade, the better of course 

 will be the animal, other conditions being equal. When the farmer is not able to purchase 

 pure-bred stock, the next best thing will be to procure a thoroughbred bull of the breed that 

 seems best adapted to his locality, circumstances, and use, and grade up the common stock, 

 or others that may seem best adapted for a basis, always making a selection of the best 

 individuals of his herd for this purpose. By this means he will in a comparatively few years 

 greatly improve his cattle, and bring them to twice their original value. We have known of 

 dairymen more than doubling the product of their cows in this way. As previously stated, 

 for many of the practical purposes, such as dairy products or beef, we have known 

 individuals of the higher grades that were fully equal to the pure-bred animals, in quality 

 and amount produced; but for breeding purposes, of course, a grade cannot be depended 

 upon to reproduce the characteristics of a breed, since there is that constant tendency to 

 revert to the original or unimproved type, which is seen in all animals and plants. Only 

 pure-bred animals can be depended upon with any certainty for perpetuating the qualities 

 that characterize them as an established breed. 



What is true of breeds is likewise applicable to grades with respect to their adaptation 

 to the wants of the farmer, the climate, soil, and other conditions. In the vicinity of large 

 cities, where immense quantities of fresh milk are consumed, these breeds or their grades are 

 most used for furnishing the supply which produce large quantities of milk, such as the 

 Dutch, or the Ayrshires, the grade produced partaking more or less of the character 

 istics of the breed. 



