966 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AXD COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



IV. How to Select Breeding Animals. 



In the selection of stock for breeding, look first to constitutional vigor. 

 Without this, no matter what the beauty of form may be, disaster will be 

 brought to the herd. Next examine the form with reference to what you 

 require. Then the question of early maturity and aptitude to fatten will 

 be important. Then constancy of characteristics as shown in the pro- 

 geny must be attended to, since this shows a perfect line of superior breed- 

 ing, most valuable in any kind of farm animals. In all farm animals 

 tractability and quietness of disposition are essential. In swine this is 

 especially so. The subject of uniformity in the progeny is referred to 

 in cattle under the title "heredity." It is worth reading again in con- 

 nection with swine. 



V. Form and Feeding Qualities. 



Once you have secured an improved breed, or if you have made one by 

 judicious crossing and selection, not only hold it so, but continue to im- 

 prove it. Careful selection of animals that show the best points, is the 

 important integer here, and the fixing them by breeding such animals 



A GROUP OF CHESTER WHITE BOARS. 



together in connection with good shelter and feeding is another. The 

 best breed that ever existed, if they do not die in the degenerating pro- 

 cess, will, if they must shift for themselves half the year, with barely 

 enough to keep life in them the other half, soon come to look like the 

 picture of "a back-Avoods hog," or that of the "prairie ranger." We see 



