PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION. 



At most agricultural colleges, the study of beef cattle begins 

 with the fat steer at the market, both on foot and in the carcass, 

 proceeds from that to a study of cattle in the feed-lot, and then 

 considers the selection and operation of the breeding herd. 

 Similar procedures are followed in studying other kinds of live 

 stock. If the student learns his first lesson at the market, 

 he comes to the feed-lot fortified with a knowledge of what the 

 market wants, and he then proceeds to a study of the breeding 

 herd knowing what both the market and the feed-lot demand 

 from the breeder. 



This is the most practical method of teaching because the 

 market should serve as a guide to the breeder and feeder; and 

 it is best from a pedagogical standpoint because finished animals 

 for the market are easiest to judge, are judged on practical points, 

 the student begins his judging with the more elementary and 

 proceeds to the more complex types, and as he progresses to 

 each new stage he brings with him a soundly practical viewpoint 

 gained from his previous experience. Finally, in his study of 

 the commercial breeding herd, the produce of which goes direct 

 to the feed-lot or market, he learns the necessity for using good 

 purebred sires, and this leads in logical order to the study of the 

 breeds of farm animals. He takes up the breed studies with a 

 clear understanding that it is the function of these breeds to 

 supply seed to improve all farm and range live stock, he has a 

 firm belief in their power to perform this function, and he is 

 led to compare and value the various breeds as they should be 

 compared and valued, namely on their ability to meet practical 

 requirements. In short, the modern plan of study, which 

 proceeds from the market to the breeds, rather than from the 

 breeds to the market, gives the student the right philosophy 

 of the live-stock business, particularly the purebred live-stock 

 business. 



In the first edition of this book, published in 1915, the 

 undersigned endeavored to present clearly and concisely the 

 things a beginner in the field of Animal Husbandry should know, 

 leading up to, but not including, the study of the breeds. The 



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