USEFULNESS IN ANIMALS 113 



the age named. Sheep, for instance, are sufficiently ma- 

 tured for being bred at a younger age than 18 months, but 

 for the reason just given are not usually bred until 19 

 months old. 



The objection to immature breeding is found in the 

 undue tax which it puts upon the system. While develop- 

 ment is yet uncompleted, the system is taxed by reproduc- 

 tion. When the energies of the system are thus divided at 

 too early an age, the development of the animal is hindered, 

 so that it is less perfect than it would otherwise be. The 

 same is true of the animal produced. It has not been de- 

 veloped in the highest sense while in embryo, and, there- 

 fore, begins the race in life at a disadvantage. Stamina is 

 lowered and size lessened in both the animal producing and 

 that produced. The argument is not tenable that animals 

 may be bred as soon as they are capable of breeding. To 

 practice this generally would be followed by decadence, 

 that would result in great deterioration with domestic ani- 

 mals and with the human family as well. Should it be 

 objected that wild animals breed at the earliest age possible, 

 and yet do not deteriorate, the answer is found in the pre- 

 carious character of the food supplies which insures rela- 

 tively slow development. 



A second objection to immature breeding is found 

 in the fact that no sooner has the animal produced than 

 the drain on the system in order to feed it becomes inten- 

 sified. The influence of such a drain is best seen in the 

 quick tendency in the sow, and especially the immature sow, 

 to lose flesh while nursing her young. Beyond question, 

 reproduction unduly early, though it may hasten returns at 

 the first, is obtained at the cost of less perfect development 

 and also at that of a curtailed period of production. Should 

 the animal thus required to give milk while yet imma- 

 ture be soon bred again, the evil is intensified. The three^ 

 fold burden is laid upon the animal of completing matu- 

 rity, of furnishing milk and of again nourishing the foetus 

 from a second impregnation. 



