250 BEGINNINGS IN 'ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



Pay a premium on merit when purchasing animals for the 

 herd. Too many breeders buy inferior animals because they 

 are cheap. From a breeding point of view, one should select 

 animals that combine individual merit and pedigree. If 

 there is anything in the laws of breeding that has been help- 

 ful in the past, it is the knowledge that like produces like. 

 Each year in the history of a herd should mark improvement, 

 and this cannot be the case if one purchases beasts of an 

 inferior character. The influence of a new animal in the 

 herd is far-reaching, be it good or bad. One should care- 

 fully consider this, and be governed accordingly. Some of 

 the most profitable breeding animals in history cost a high 

 price. The Berkshire boar, Masterpiece, was purchased 

 by Mr. Corsa for $2500, and proved to be a very profitable 

 animal at that record-breaking price. 



Try to become a judge. If one is to be a breeder, he 

 should be familiar with the relation of form to purpose, and 

 should be judge enough to select intelligently his own breed- 

 ing stock. There are courses of instruction whereby system- 

 atic training in judging may be secured. Good judgment 

 in culling out the undesirable animals from the herd, and 

 in the purchasing of new stock, is highly essential, whether 

 for breeding or feeding purposes. Some practical feeders 

 have the reputation of shipping only good fat-stock to the 

 market, and buyers are always on the lookout for animals 

 fed by them, for which they pay the top price of the day. 



Feed your animals well. One cannot purchase high- 

 class stock and keep them in good form and state of de- 

 velopment, unless properly fed. Many persons buy animals 

 in good condition, but neglect them after the animals come 

 into their possession. Where men must buy feed, they too 

 frequently neglect to give their new purchases enough to 

 keep them in thrifty, healthy condition. Food is essential 



