PEDIGREES AND THEIR VALUE 



45 



In a study of the pedigree of a race horse, one should find 

 therein the names of many animals with speed records to 

 their credit. In the case of a dairy breed of cattle, then milk 

 or butter-fat records may be given, as well as the records 

 of offspring of sires and dams. With some breeds, a state- 

 ment is affixed showing prizes won in the show ring. In 

 cases of animals selling at high prices, these facts are also 

 sometimes inserted in the pedigree. The important thing 

 is to show at different points in the ancestry the richness of 

 the pedigree in production. At the present day, one should 

 have no difficulty in securing the pedigrees of pure-bred ani- 

 mals that will give more or less specific information regard- 

 ing performance on the part of individuals in the pedigree. 

 The richer the ancestry in record-making achievement, the 

 higher the price one usually pays for the animal purchased. 



A pedigree score card suggesting the relative importance 

 of near and remote ancestors has been proposed by Prof. 

 F. R. Marshall.* In this score card, 24 points are given the 

 sire (12 for siring good stock, and 12 for individual merit), 

 and 24 points are given the dam (10 for her record as a pro- 

 ducer, and 14 for individual merit), with 4 points on similarity 

 of type of sire and dam. The grandparents are given a total 

 of 24 points, ranging from four to two points each for records 



*Breediug Farm Auimals, 1911, page 110. 



