4 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



in the particular characters that adapt them to special 

 conditions and purposes. 



Success in the breeding of live-stock, as in all 

 other departments of farm management, must be 

 measured by the actual value of the products, and the 

 profits that may be derived from them. 



The relative value of animals depends upon their 

 adaptation to a particular purpose, and the returns 

 they make for feed consumed. It is evident that, 

 where a particular form of animal product is the lead- 

 ing object, the greater value will be placed upon the 

 animal that excels in its production. Excellence in 

 other directions may be desirable, but it will not 

 compensate for a deficiency in the special qualities 

 required. 



The return obtained, in any form of animal prod- 

 uct, for feed consumed, is of the first importance in 

 estimating the value of animals. Mr. Bakewell re- 

 garded live-stock as machines for converting the vege- 

 table products of the farm into animal products of 

 greater value ; and Sir John Sinclair expresses the 

 same idea when he says, " Under the head of live- 

 stock are comprehended the various sorts of domesti- 

 cated animals which are employed by man as instru- 

 ments for converting to his use, either by labor or 

 otherwise, those productions of the soil which are not 

 immediately applicable to supply his wants in their 

 natural state." * 



The animal that furnishes the largest amount and 

 the best quality of the desired animal product, from 

 a given amount of food, would undoubtedly be the 



1 " Code of Agriculture," p. 84. 



