104 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



But if the theory is correct, it ought to be possible with due 

 care to modify the proportion of the sexes in the offspring. 



Sex determination is also a family characteristic. Sires or 

 dams from families that run strong to either sex may be 

 depended upon to produce a larger proportion of that par- 

 ticular sex in their offspring. 



STARTING A LIVESTOCK FARM 



In starting a livestock farm it is well to remember the im- 

 portance of the sire as mentioned previously. Considera- 

 tion should 9,lso be given to environment, nature of country, 

 location, etc. 



The Herd Sire. — Since the sire plays such an important 

 part in any herd of cattle, horses, sheep or swine, great care 

 should be exercised in selecting him. A herd sire may be 

 purchased while he is young or he may be purchased when he 

 is old. To select and buy a good young sire requires more 

 ability than to select one wlien he has come to maturity. But 

 in buying a young sire one saves on express charges and if the 

 buyer has the ability he may be able to get an extra good one 

 that might not later be available. In buying young sires also 

 one takes chances that he may not develop into as good an 

 individual as he promises in early life. There is also more 

 chance of losing him by accident or death. 



In buying an old and tried sire one has a record of per- 

 formances to go by which is a sure index of what he can do. 

 An old sire also is large enough to allow more than the best- 

 trained man to recognize his points of excellence. Many 

 times such a sire is available from a small herd where he can 

 no longer be kept on account of in-breeding. Buying an 

 old sire from a small herd is a good way sometimes to get a 

 good sire. But on the other hand, good breeders usually keep 

 their good sires or else sell them at prices that would be 

 prohibitive to beginners. 



Many times a group of breeders get together and form a 

 community breeding association. This association then buys 

 a sire for common use. This is an excellent practice because 

 it reduces the expense per farmer and enables them to buy 

 a better individual than one man alone could afford. Some 



