CHAPTER XXXIV 

 THE BREEDING OF LIVE STOCK 



Selecting the Animals. — Almost every farmer keeps some 

 animals, and in almost every case he raises some young ani- 

 mals either to take the place of the older ones or to sell. 

 The growing of young stock either for home use or for mar- 

 ket is the purpose in stock-breeding. 



When one begins to raise young animals he should have 

 mature animals with which to begin. These are his founda- 

 tion stock. The male is called the sire^ the female, the dam. 

 The choice of foundation stock is not always wisely made. 

 It is desirable that it should consist of animals of as good 

 breeding as possible. They should also be of good form 

 and appearance, and be suited to the purpose of the breeder. 

 Well-bred animals should be chosen for foundation stock for 

 at least three reasons: 1. The offspring will bring better 

 prices because they look better, and, if sold for slaughter, 

 will dress out a larger percentage of meat than animals of 

 poor breeding. 2. The offspring will mature more quickly 

 than those of animals of poor breeding. 3. Well-bred ani- 

 mals eat less food in proportion to the gains they make. 



The term well-bred is used in two ways: (1) when an ani- 

 mal has a large percentage of pure blood and is of superior 

 quality; (2) when the animal has a long ancestry of pure 

 blood and excellent quality. It is pure-bred when its dam 



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