58 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



animal may have a diamond-shaped chest, which would show 

 a good measurement for heart girth, but this would not 

 indicate as good a constitution as if the chest were more nearly 

 oval as 0- Only the "eye of the master " determines the value 

 of an animal. 



This matter of constitution like the covering of lean meat 

 or muscle is an inherited characteristic and is produced by 

 breeding. It can be developed by feeding and environment 

 only to the extent determined for the animal by its ancestors. 



It is said that one out of every seven persons that die is 

 taken off by consumption or human tuberculosis. At the 

 same time it is said that no one can walk in the streets of an 

 ordinary city without being exposed to the disease. The 

 germs of this disease, or tubercle bacilli, are so prevalent that 

 they are floating in the air. Tuberculosis also is a contagious 

 disease. It is one of the most, if not the most, dreaded malady 

 to which the human race is subject. Why is it then that only 

 one out of seven people is killed by it? 



When man was created provision was made for destroying 

 foreign germs as they were taken into the body. This is done 

 by the white blood corpuscles or phagocytes working with 

 other agencies. In animals, men included, that are strong 

 constitutionally and are healthy and vigorous the work of 

 destruction is comparatively easy, but even such animals 

 may contract disease when the germs are introduced in large 

 numbers. Under ordinary conditions man is strong enough. 

 Consequently only one out of seven dies with the disease 

 while all of them probably inhale the germs. 



Farm animals that are bred to be strong in constitution and 

 so fed and handled that their strength increases as they grow, 

 are much more likely to be free from disease than others. 

 But this is not the main point. The principal consideration 

 in this connection is that such animals are better feeders and 

 producers and make more money for their owners. 



LENGTH OF BODY 



All farm animals should be of good size, be good in quality, 

 have a good covering of lean meat, and be good in constitution. 

 And all except the horse should be long in body. The pur- 



