BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE 275 



that immature breeding has reduced the size of many of our dairy 

 cattle, it has not been proven that diminished constitutional vigor 

 has accompanied this loss of size, though many hold to that view. 

 It is rational to assume that in unduly immature breeding some of 

 the physiological laws of nature must be violated, and this cannot 

 occur without being followed by some evil results. No fixed age can 

 be given for the breeding of heifers, it should be dependent on the 

 rapidity and character of the development of the individual. 



Cross-Breeding. A cross-bred is the progeny of two distinct 

 breeds. Though there has been an indiscriminate mixing up of the 

 blood of various breeds, cross-breeding in its strictest sense is not 

 prevalent, owing to the small number of pure bred females in exist- 

 ence. The grades of the various breeds, however, are crossed fre- 

 quently. The practice has been stimulated by sudden and somewhat 

 prolonged fluctuations in market values; a depressed dairy market 

 leads to more or less crossing of beef blood upon dairy types and 

 vice versa; an increased price for the longer and coarser staples of 

 wool always causes more or less crossing of coarse wools upon 

 fine wools or the reverse, as the case may be. No breeder can make 

 such radical changes as these, frequently, for every time he alters his 

 breeding operations so radically in trying to meet market fluctua- 

 tions, he introduces factors leading to the final deterioration of his 

 breeding stocks. It is much safer to choose some definite line of pro- 

 duction, and stand by that through the temporary ups and downs 

 of the market; the men who have done this have made a success of 

 animal breeding. It would not be sensible to say that no changes 

 should be made in one's breeding operations; if a man is sure he has 

 made a mistake, the only rational thing to do is to make a change, 

 but these should not be made often, as they are usually attended by 

 some loss. The progeny from some first crosses have shown highly de- 

 sirable results and while cross-breeding is more justifiable in the pro- 

 duction of market animals, it cannot be employed continuously in 

 the production of breeding stocks. From the breeders' standpoint, 

 each succeeding cross becomes less and less satisfactory. Cross-breed- 

 ing is more justifiable among those classes of animals such as swine, 

 which reproduce quickly and abundantly, and mature early, for in 

 such cases it is easily possible to return to the original types for 

 breeding animals. While it must be admitted that cross-breeding 

 has rendered valuable service, in the form of single out crosses in 

 the formation of new breeds and types, still, it should not be prac- 

 ticed among cattle on the ordinary farm, for three reasons, viz. : (1) 

 It would tend to destroy the identity of breeds; (2) The results are 

 in many cases uncertain, and (3) It might render pure bred females 

 less capable of breeding true to type. 



In-and-in Breeding. Because of the fact that the several terms 

 used in connection with the breeding of variously related animals 

 are not always properly used, or understood, it may be well to define 

 them. (1) In-and-in breeding implies the mating of animals closely 

 related, for a number of successive generations; it includes close 

 relationships and continuous repetition. (2) In-breeding implies 



