THE BREEDING OF CATTLE. 649 



of a particular sub-family of milkers, while to the farmer, intending to 

 breed him upon a mixed herd, $100 would be his full value. 



Across of " Seventeen" blood might be a good and sufficient reason for 

 the refusal by some special breeder to buy a particular Short-Horn, while 

 to the general breeder it would be no disadvantage ; and if the animal 

 were a pure " Seventeen" — descended in a direct line from that importa- 

 tion — the outcome might be richer in beef and milk then the other. 

 Hence it is seen that the farmer who breeds simply for milk or beef, 

 should possess as accurate information concerning what he wants as the 

 breeder of select animals of some particular strain of blood, 



Xm. Know what You Breed For. 



The breeder for general utility must possess as accurate knowledge as 

 the breeder for special utility, but this knowledge needs to be of a dif- 

 ferent kind from the other. The breeder for general utility cares not 

 so much that the blood be of some particular strain, as that it shall com- 

 bine certain points that will bring beef or milk into the produce of his 

 herd, and at the least expense. 



What the general breeder is seeking for is such refinement in the head, 

 neck, lungs, digestive organs, blood vessels and limbs, as will tell in the 

 best manner upon his coarser stock. He would be guided by different 

 standards in buying a thoroughbred horse from those he would adopt in 

 buying a draft horse ; and in buying an animal solely for beef, the 

 breeder must choose from a different standpoint from that which he takes 

 in buying for milk, labor, or a combination of two or more of these quali- 

 ties. But in this day of special breeds for special purposes great excel- 

 lence in all points cannot be expected in one and the same animal. No 

 bull can be a getter of great milkers, great workers, and great beef 

 makers. All these qualities were never combined in one animcl and 

 never will be. 



XIV. Definition of Terms. 



Pure Bred. — The words "pure-bred," " full- blood," and "thorough- 

 bred" have often been stumbling blocks to the uninitiated. A pure race, 

 -or race of " pure-bred animals is one of unmixed lineage whose charac- 

 teristics are well defined, and which breeds pure to the type in every 

 essential particular, including form, color, temper, and of course power 

 to transmit the same. The Devons come nearer to filling all these 

 requirements than any other cattle, and are the best type of a pure breed. 



Thoroughbred. — A thoroughbred is the descendant of animals origin- 

 ally of mixed lineage, but which have been inter-bred for so long a time 

 — without further admixture — that they come essentially true to the type 



