134 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



Type is valuable as an indicator of utility or adaptation 

 for a certain end. Peculiarities of form in horses indicate 

 capacity for speed or labor respectively, or for a combina- 

 tion of the two. In cattle these indicate capacity for 

 meat or milk, or for a combination of the two. In sheep 

 they indicate capacity for mutton or wool production, and in 

 swine for producing meat of a certain quality. In a sense 

 less pronounced, it is an indicator of breeding qualities, of 

 general ruggedness or weakness, and of feeding capacity. 

 But its chief value lies in what it indicates with reference 

 to capacity for production, as of meat, milk, wool, speed 

 or labor. 



Type, however, as an indicator of utility or adaptation 

 is to be taken as a general, rather than as an absolute guide. 

 In a general sense, it is an infallible guide. For instance, 

 when a cow is possessed of pronounced dairy form, it is 

 also known that she is possessed of far higher adaptation 

 for producing milk than for producing meat. But this ex- 

 act degree of her capacity for milk production cannot be 

 known in the absence of actual proof, the result of perfor- 

 mance. Hence, it is, that no judge living can go into an ex- 

 hibit of dairy cattle, all the individuals of which are high 

 performers, and tell to a certainty which stand highest in 

 actual milk production.. So it is with performance in all 

 lines and with all classes of live stock. This is owing to 

 the bearing which other qualifying influences have on pro- 

 duction; such as habit, use, training, and also to the wis- 

 dom previously exercised in the application of the various 

 known influences that have a bearing on development in 

 performance or production. 



Type should be sought in the highest degree obtain- 

 able in the line of what it indicates, providing it is not car- 

 ried to that point where it begins to react prejudicially 

 upon properties co-related and essential to highest perform- 

 ance or production in the direction sought. For instance, 

 should ranginess in the running horse be sought to the ex- 

 tent of weakening staying power, the type thus sought is 



