26 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



therefore, that animals shall be carefully chosen with 

 reference to the specific uses for which they are kept. 



By what standards shall the selections be made? First, 

 by those that relate to inheritance; second, to form or 

 type; third, to quality; fourth, to environment; fifth, to 

 health, and in some instances, but not in all, to transmis- 

 sion. These standards are discussed below, each in its 

 place, hence, further discussion at this time is not neces- 

 sary. 



Inheritance. Inheritance in the selection of animals 

 for feeding, and more especially for breeding, is important, 

 because of the bearing it has on prospective results. 

 With rare exceptions these results are assured in propor- 

 tion (i) to the duration of the purity of the breeding; (2) 

 to the degree of excellence in the near ancestry; and (3) 

 to the correct individuality of the animals in respect to 

 form and also in respect to function, proved or prospec- 

 tive. The first is ascertained through pedigree, the sec- 

 ond, through facts bearing on the history, including the 

 performance of the animals in the near generations, and 

 the eye or hand or both acting in conjunction. 



The importance of inheritance as a factor in selection 

 is not always equal. It is probably never equal except 

 when the particular individuals are chosen for the same 

 specific purpose, as when two cows, for instance, are 

 chosen for the same line of production in the dairy. It 

 varies (i) with the object for which the animals are 

 chosen ; (2) with the duration of the period for which 

 they are to be kept, and (3) with the relative value of the 

 products which they produce. 



It is very evident that selection based on inheritance, 

 though usually important in selecting animals for feed- 

 ing, is less important than when selecting them for breed- 

 ing. In the former instance, individual performance until 

 they reach the block is the only question at stake, in the 

 latter, succeeding generations are involved. 



