BREEDING CATTLE. 03 



BREEDING CATTLE. 



General Principles Under the head of "General Prin- 

 ciples of Breeding " we have discussed at length the laws of genera- 

 tion which have a general application to all classes of domestic ani- 

 mals, and by which the successful breeder in any line of stock must 

 be largely guided. It must be understood that the rules there given 

 are not only mere rules; they are definite laws of nature and cannot 

 be deviated from in any case when definite results are aimed at. 

 The stock-breeder starting with one or more varieties in breeds of 

 cattle, will naturally desire to keep his stock in at least as good con- 

 dition as to blood and productiveness as he found it. If he is pru- 

 dent, intelligent and ambitious, he will seek to make it better than 

 he found it, knowing that the greater improvement he effects in 

 these directions, the greater will be the profit of his business. 



Absolute Essentials in Breeding- Stock If he has 



studied the principles of breeding to profit, he will realize that for 

 animals that are to be retained for breeding purposes, he must look 

 upon the following qualities as indispensable: 



1. Sound health and freedom from constitutional, hereditary, 

 chronic or local disease, blemish or infirmity of any kind. 



2. As much perfection of form as may be possible to obtain 

 in the breed, bearing in mind the chief purposes for which the ani- 

 mals are designed. 



3. Uniform presentation of the strong and marked character- 

 istics of their breed, in the various points belonging to it. 



4. When of distinct breed, thorough purity of blood, substan- 

 tiated by well-authenticated pedigrees, through as many generations 

 back as can be ascertained. 



5. Good temper, and a kindly, docile disposition. 



The point of ancestry is of particular importance, for the more 

 knowledge the breeder possesses upon that subject, the greater cer- 

 tainty and accuracy he can ensure in breeding for particular pur- 

 poses. 



In carrying out these rules, the breeder will require informa- 

 tion upon certain points which all cattle of whatever breed should 

 possess, and these will be found in detail under the head of " How 

 to Purchase Live-Stock," page 573 



In addition to these matters, the breeder must observe certain 

 conditions as to care and feeding, fully laid down in the article on 

 Feeding (page 625 ). which may be here summarized as follows: 



1. Abundance of proper food at the various seasons, as grass, 

 or its equivalent in spring, summer and autumn; nutritious and 

 well prepared food in the winter, and plenty of good water always. 



2. Regularity in feeding ; no scantiness of allowance, but always 

 enough without waste. 



