

2 THE 'BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



feed and labor increasing the cost of production and ren- 

 dering more imperative the economic efficiency of the 

 animal machine itself, affords the strongest argument in 

 favor of the high grade animal. 



The breeding of pure-bred live-stock is too often re- 

 garded as beyond the concern of the average breeder. 

 While he may not be equipped to engage in it himself he 

 must be an indirect patron of the pure-bred stud, herd or 

 flock if he is to succeed in his business of marketing animals 

 or their products. Furthermore, the high grade animal 

 embodies to such a great extent the characteristics of the 

 breed from which it is derived as to make the study of 

 the breeds of as much importance to the breeder of grades 

 as to the breeder of pure-breds. 



Cross-breeding is legitimately practiced to some extent, 

 but skillful use of the blood of the breeds crossed requires 

 intimate knowledge of their inherent possibilities. Failure 

 to reckon with these invisible hereditary forces may result 

 in some of the most unexpected occurrences with which 

 all cross-breeding is more or less fraught. 



Study of the breeds should be undertaken, however, 

 with the proper motive and from the correct point of view. 

 Each breed has its advocates and it is well that this is so, 

 but it is not advisable to " vote on principle " in breeds 

 as is done in politics. A blindly partisan allegiance to 

 any breed may lead a breeder wide of the mark that he 

 is striving to attain. An intelligent choice of a breed 

 involves first, recognition of the conditions to be met, 

 such as markets, facilities with which to cater to their 

 demands, the existence of community sentiment and 

 reputation, and finally personal fancy ; second, knowledge 

 of the special adaptability of the respective breed to meet 

 the conditions imposed. 



