MISCELLANEOUS 251 



for any infectious diseases with which they may be 

 afflicted, or have been exposed to, to fully develop. This 

 precaution will often save the buyer from loss. 



Avoid exhibiting in fairs, shows, etc., where the health 

 of your animals might be jeopardized, especially through 

 the presence of contagiously affected animals. If you 

 cannot be sure proper precautions are to be taken, 

 better forego your pride and possible prize ribbons. 



HEREDITARY TENDENCIES 

 When breeding, it is of utmost importance to select a 

 good female as well as male, for the least faulty con- 

 formation in either will in all probability be transferred 

 to the offspring, viz. : an animal with a crooked hind leg 

 is subject to bone spavin, curbs, bog spavin, thoroughpin, 

 ring bone, etc., and is liable to transmit any of these dis- 

 eases, especially if exposed to slight exertion. A tuber- 

 cular cow will invariably give birth to a tubercular calf, 

 or at any rate the calf will contract tuberculosis from 

 the milk. 



EVOLUTION OF STOCK 



During the transformation which our country has un- 

 dergone, and is undergoing, no one industry has expe- 

 rienced such marked changes as the production and 

 raising of livestock. 



At the earliest time of which we have any record, and 

 even up to within comparatively recent years, large 

 herds of horses and cattle ranged over our plains in a 

 wild state. At first no attempts were made to capture 

 or round up these herds, and later but one or two 

 attempts per year, when the young were branded and 

 grown animals shipped, if possible, or driven to avail- 

 able markets. 



As the country became more thickly settled and popu- 

 lated these larger herds were broken up, the ranges 



