34 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



up grade. No question is more frequently put with refer- 

 ence to selection than that which asks, "Which is the best 

 breed?" The best breed is that which will give the best re- 

 turns for the food fed, having due regard for the objects 

 for which it is kept, under the conditions of environment 

 to which it is subjected. 



Health indications. -No consideration in selection is 

 more important than the indications that relate to good 

 health whether present or prospective. Under conditions 

 unartificial, animals usually die only from old age when 

 they do not fall a prey to those that are stronger. If dec- 

 imated by some disease, epidemic in its nature, such dis- 

 ease has been introduced from some outside source, and 

 when it runs its course does not originate again within 

 the breed. 



The moment, however, that artificial conditions are in- 

 troduced, the danger arises that stamina will be lowered, 

 notwithstanding other advantages that may be gained, and 

 that it will be lowered in proportion to the extent to 

 which the animals are subjected to artificial conditions, as 

 strikingly illustrated in the vigor of the wild hog as com- 

 pared with the pampered hog of the corn belt. Happily, 

 however, artificial conditions so conducive to generous pro- 

 duction when of the right kind, are in no way necessarily 

 inconsistent with the maintenance of good health in ani^ 

 mals. It is when the conditions are unwise or are carried 

 beyond a prudential limit that they unduly lower stamina, 

 as for instance, when cattle and sheep are too closely 

 housed in winter, or where swine are fed too continuously 

 on corn. 



Conditions of good health. The following are promi- 

 nent indications of good health in animals: (i) A full, 

 bright eye. The moment that the general health becomes 

 impaired the eye begins to lose its brightness, and as 

 disease progresses, it sinks and becomes languid, the 

 immediate cause being lack of sustenance. (2) A moist, 

 dewy muzzle. With derangement in the circulation and 



