THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



INTRODUCTION 

 THE STUDY OF THE BREEDS 



IN this era of improved live-stock husbandry it is more 

 the exception than the rule to find horses, cattle, sheep, 

 hogs and even chickens that do not show the distinguish- 

 ing characters of some breed predominating their physical 

 makeup. The true mongrel of nondescript breeding is 

 in the minority. How has this come about? Does 

 it reflect, in exact measure, the success of the breed 

 associations and others in their efforts to promote the 

 interests of their respective breeds, or a general sentimen- 

 tal preference for the pure-bred sire ? Neither it is an 

 economic problem. The most convincing basis upon 

 which to argue is one of dollars and cents and the grade 

 has demonstrated itself to be a better business proposi- 

 tion than the mongrel. It is more reasonable to suppose 

 that a cow, for example, which has inherited from her 

 sire, if not from her dam also, the cumulative high pro- 

 duction that has been sought through a long line of an- 

 cestors, will be more productive than one whose incentive 

 to give milk is merely incident to maternity. 



With a variety of breeds, each endowed with greater 

 proficiency for some special performance or production, 

 the grade has become the only animal worth feeding. 

 Competition in the marketing of products, high-priced 



