SELECTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE 37 



than in others. The men who have been most successful as 

 breeders have always refrained from purchasing animals the 

 pedigrees of which showed undesirable ancestry. Auction 

 sales of live stock bring out various interesting features, 

 chief among which is the relatively higher price paid for 

 animals of recognized satisfactory pedigree. While it is true 

 that in the past many animals have sold at high prices, 

 largely on the basis of pedigree and without merit otherwise, 

 the fact remains that, as a general rule, a combination of 

 individual excellence and meritorious pedigree brings the 

 highest price. The man who combines the capable judge 

 and wise interpreter of pedigree is qualified to select his 

 animals and improve his herd to the best advantage. 



A SAMPLE SELECTION OF QUESTIONS ON SELECTION 



1. What is natural selection? 



2. What did Darwin say about methodical selection? 



3. What is the Australian method of culling and selecting sheep? 



4. How have great sires been valued by their owners? 



5. What is the relation of animal development to soil and climate? 



6. Why aim for uniformity of type in founding a herd? 



7. What is rational selection? Illustrate. 



8. How important is constitution? 



9. What part should pedigree play in buying breeding animals? 



SUGGESTIONS FOR INVESTIGATIONS IN SELECTION 



10. Make a report on Charles Darwin as a student of selection. 



11. What breeders that you know practice methodical selection? 



12. Are there any sires in your county highly valued by their owners? 



If so, what are they, their value, and why so valued? 



13. Give local examples of dairy cows having official records of milk 



or butter-fat production. Axe these the result of careful selec- 

 tion? 



