SYSTEMATIC IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS 195 



Above all, he should not choose it suddenly or impulsively, 

 as do some, when overimpressed with a particularly striking dis- 

 play at the fair. The matter of the breed should be seriously 

 studied, for once chosen it should not, under any ordinary cir- 

 cumstances, be changed for another. To do that is to so mix 

 the breeds together as to make a jumble which is next to 

 worthless for practical purposes, giving rise as it does to all 

 sorts of troublesome and unexpected reversions, for Mendel's 

 law is always operative in such cases. 



Breed differences slight. As between the different breeds 

 that are bred for the same purpose, the practical differences 

 are slight and well within the personal factor of choice. For 

 example, the four great beef breeds — Shorthorn, Hereford, 

 Angus, and Galloway — were developed in as many different 

 localities, and all in the hands of excellent stockmen. As 

 with adherence to a political party or to a particular religious 

 faith, an individual generally prefers the one with which he 

 was brought up. 



Many a man says, " I will not have horns." Then his choice 

 is limited to Galloway and Angus. But he says, y I don't like 

 black cattle." Very well ; then he will have to get the Polled 

 Durham. Then he may say, " I don't like roans." Then noth- 

 ing is left for him but to make a breed of his own, with the 

 probability that he will be dead and forgotten long before the 

 feat is accomplished, for we cannot quickly build a breed to 

 specification, as we can a house. 



After the breed is chosen the breeder should become familiar 

 with its " points " and also with the market requirements of the 

 animals he proposes to produce. 



To facilitate this study by the young I have added an Appen- 

 dix, which gives sample scales of points both for pure-bred and 

 for market animals. It is impossible to cover all breeds in a 

 book of this size, but enough is given to afford exercise in stock 

 judging, which is one of the most valuable accomplishments of 

 the farmer. 



