2 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



plications of these empirical expressions, that repre- 

 sent the fundamental principles of the best modern 

 practice. 



The early breeders, like many at the present time, 

 had no consistent system of selection. The "best" 

 of any given selection for breeding, made in accord- 

 ance with the time-honored rule, differed in all essen- 

 tial details of form and quality from the " best " that 

 were selected at another time. 



Their standard of excellence was, in fact, constantly 

 changing, so that no real progress in the development 

 of the most valuable qualities could be made. 



Shortly after the middle of the last century, Robert 

 Bakewell, of Dishley Grange, Leicestershire, England, 

 originated a new system which he successfully prac- 

 tised in the improvement of Leicester sheep, Long-horn 

 cattle, and Black cart-horses. His belief that the fa- 

 miliar maxim, " like begets like," was not limited to 

 a general similarity of the offspring to the parent, but 

 extended to the minutest details of the organization, 

 led him to adopt for his guidance a definite standard 

 of excellence representing the form and internal quali- 

 ties that were best adapted to the highest develop- 

 ment of the animal for a special purpose. 



His critical study of the form and proportions of 

 animals, and their relations to the most desirable quali- 

 ties, enabled him to develop an ideal model of perfec- 

 tion, that he kept constantly in view when making 

 his selections for breeding. 



In his sheep and cattle he endeavored to secure a 

 large proportion of choice parts in the carcass, a supe- 

 rior quality of flesh, with a tendency to early maturity, 



