BREEDING AS AN ART. 7 



cents per pound, would bring one dollar and fifty 

 cents ; and six pounds from another, at the same 

 price, would bring three dollars, a difference of one 

 dollar and fifty cents, or the interest on fifteen dollars. 

 Even if it is claimed that the animals giving the 

 greatest return consume considerably more food than 

 the inferior ones, there would still remain a great dif- 

 ference in the profits of their products. 



If in the same way we estimate the relative value 

 of sires, by comparing the .qualities of their offspring, 

 it would be seen that one capable of increasing the 

 value of the flock or herd would be well worth a good 

 price ; while another, that could not be relied on to 

 impress any good qualities upon his offspring, would 

 be dear at any price. 



The object of the art of breeding is the improve- 

 ment of animals in those qualities that have a definite 

 value, among which are the production of meat, and 

 milk, and wool, and labor. 



Breeders who have been the most successful in 

 improving the various pure breeds have endeavored 

 to obtain the highest development of some one of 

 these qualities ; while the others, which they looked 

 upon as of secondary importance, have been quite 

 generally neglected. 



It must not, however, be assumed that these quali- 

 ties are absolutely incompatible, so that a high degree 

 of excellence in two or more of them cannot be ob- 

 tained in the same animal ; but it is undoubtedly 

 easier to secure an extraordinary development of a 

 single character than to obtain the same degree of 

 excellence in two or more at the same time. 



