SHEEP 409 



grade is practically the equal of the pure-bred. Though good in in- 

 dividuality, he, however, is unreliable as a sire. The problems of live 

 stock improvement very largely center upon the selection of the sire. 



Selecting the Sire. Since the sire must be largely depended 

 upon as the source of improved breeding, his selection should be in- 

 telligently and carefully considered. Since his influence is equal to 

 the influence of the entire female herd or flock taken collectively, 

 his selection is the most vital consideration of live stock improve- 

 ment. 



Performance. The first essential of the sire is that he possess 

 the ability to transmit his characters regularly and surely. It is the 

 most fundamental quality of the sire. Due to the fact, also, that it is 

 the most common and conspicuous weakness, it is of first importance. 



The only reliable test of fertile, prepotent breeding powers is 

 actual performance. The appearance of the sire as an individual, par- 

 ticularly his masculinity and vigor of disposition, and the character 

 of the animals in his pedigree, are considered as general indications 

 of breeding ability, but they should never be relied upon when the 

 actual performance record is available. For this reason tested sires 

 are much more reliable than sires of immature age. A fuller appre- 

 ciation of this fact on the part of the breeder will not only prevent 

 further sacrifice of promising sires just approaching the period of 

 their greatest usefulness, but will greatly conserve and extend the 

 service of those sires whose breeding qualities have been demon- 

 strated. In buying a sire, therefore, the character and uniformity of 

 his get should be considered of first importance and the most reliable 

 single guide to his future breeding powers. Performance is the only 

 real test of value. 



Individuality. The second consideration in buying or select- 

 ing a sire is his individuality. He should be a good individual. By 

 this we mean that he possess the size, form and quality which indi- 

 cate strong constitution, thrifty growing and feeding capacity in the 

 offspring, and in addition, insure the production of the sort of ani- 

 mal which sells best on the market. He should be strong in mascu- 

 linity and vigorous in appearance, for manv believe that they reflect 

 fertile breeding powers and prepotency. I'he ultimate test, for ex- 

 ample, of the beef sire for up-grading is the character of the mar- 

 ket steers he is able to get; the ultimate test of the stallion is the 

 serviceability and market value of the geldings which he produces. 

 In addition to possessing these fundamental requirements, the pure- 

 bred sire should possess the characters of the breed to which he be- 

 longs, such as size, peculiarities of color, form, shape of head, and set 

 of horn, etc., i. e., his breed type characters should be strongly rep- 

 resented. When typical of a breed, we have good reason to expect 

 his breeding to be more desirable than that of the individual lack- 

 ing the characters of a breed. 



Individuality means everything about the animal which can be 

 seen with the eye or felt with the hand. Individuality is entirely 

 depended upon by the judge in placing a class of animals in the 

 show ring. In buying a sire, however, we should not depend upon 



