USEFULNESS IN ANIMALS -III 



and third, that high selection is more easily possible the 

 fewer the number of animals required, it would seem rea- 

 sonable to conclude that highest profit would result from 

 not rushing maturity. The additional cost also of securing 

 the larger number of animals prior to the birth period, tends 

 to further strengthen this conclusion; (2) the feeding is 

 not of the high pressure order, and therefore, it is not so 

 costly. Too much must not be made of this fact, however, 

 as it is to some extent offset by increased cost of food 

 of maintenance in the slower maturing animals; (3) the 

 productive return is more certain than from animals young 

 and unproved, hence the risk of introducing animals that 

 are inferior for work as breeders, and also as performers at 

 the pail, is reduced to a minimum. Fewer animals are 

 required to produce a given result, for the reason that they 

 produce for a longer period. The smaller the number of 

 the animals to be chosen, the less the hazard of introducing 

 individuals that are mediocre or low performers. Nor is 

 the fact to be overlooked, that the early years of production 

 are not so valuable as those that come later. The young 

 horse is not at his best for two or three years after he 

 begins to labor and the same is true of milk giving in the 

 cow. The fewer the number of animals, therefore, that are 

 required to produce a given result, the fewer relatively will 

 be the number of those years of performance below what is 

 maximum. It is different, however, with animals that are 

 being grown for the block. The more quickly they are 

 grown without excessive feeding, the more profitably are 

 they grown. 



Deferred production and usefulness. The period of 

 usefulness may be prolonged in various ways. Among 

 these are the following: (i) By not seeking production 

 at too early a period in the life of the animal; (2) by 

 practicing moderation in feeding while the animal is in 

 process of development and subsequently; (3) by intel- 

 ligently adapting the degree of exercise given to the needs of 



