410 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



individuality alone, for sometimes individuals which are good 

 enough to exhibit in the show ring prove disappointing as breeders. 

 "Like produces like" only within very wide limits, and so individu- 

 ality should be supplemented, when possible, by performance and 

 pedigree. 



Pedigree. The third essential of the pure-bred sire is that he 

 have a good pedigree. A pedigree is simply the record of an ani- 

 mal's ancestry. Besides the names of the sire and dam, and grand- 

 sires and grandams, etc., it usually includes also the color and date 

 of birth of each animal, and the names of the breeders. A pedigree 

 in itself is not a guarantee of merit, for all pure-bred animals may 

 have recorded pedigrees. The most important thing in studying a 

 pedigree, is to learn of the merit of each animal as a breeder and 

 as an individual appearing in the immediate ancestry. If the im- 

 mediate parents were good individuals and the grandparents were 

 uniformly good, we have good reason for calling it a good pedigree. 

 If we add to this, good animals of the third and of the fourth gen- 

 erations we have a still stronger guarantee of merit. Uniformity of 

 individuality in the pedigree usually means similarity of blood lines, 

 and this usually means strong, prepotent breeding powers for the 

 animal under consideration. The most essential feature of a good 

 pedigree is good individuality in the immediate ancestry. 



Summary. In buying a sire, therefore, performance, or actual 

 breeding ability, should be considered of first importance. Individ- 

 uality is second in importance and a most reliable guide to merit for 

 persons unfamiliar with pedigrees, or when the animal is too young 

 to have been tested. Thirdly, a knowledge of the individual should 

 be supplemented by a knowledge of the pedigree. When good indi- 

 viduality is supported by a good pedigree we have the strongest 

 possible quarantee of good performance. (Ind. Cir. 29.) 



Authorities Consulted. Sheep Breeding. Ag. Dept. F. B. 49; 

 N. Dak. B. 28; S. Dak. B. 55, 71, 80; Utah B. 82; Mont. B. 47; 

 Mich. B. 220; Wyo. B. 69; N. H. B. 152; Ariz. Timely Hints 84; 

 Minn. B. 59; Ind. B. 147; la. B. 63; Wyo. B. 51; Okla. B. 78; 

 Minn. B. 78; Mo. Cir. 25; Nev.B.51, 55. * 



Wool Mich. State Ag. Col. E. S. B. 178; Ag. Dept. Rept. on 

 Wool, 1886; Wyo. 21st An. Kept.; Treasury Dept. Rept. Wool & 

 Mfgs. of Wool, 1894. 



Early Lambs. Colo. State Ag. Col. E. S. B. 52; N. Y. Cornell 

 B. 88. 



Fattening Range Lambs. Ohio A. E. S. B. 179; S. Dak. B. 86; 

 Wyo. B. 64, 68; Minn. B. 59; Ohio B. 179, 187; Minn. B. 57. 



Feeding Lambs. Utah A. E. S. B. 78; S. Dak. B. 80; Utah B. 

 78; N. Mex. B. 50; Wyo. B. 73, 81, 79; N. H. B. 152, 85; Colo. B. 

 76, 75; Minn. B. 75; Mont. B. 35; Minn. B. 59; Colo. B. 151; N. 

 Mex. B. 79; Mass. B. 37, 43; Wyo. B. 89, 51, 47; Minn. B. 44; Ag. 

 Dept. O. E. S. Vol. 4, No. 6; N. Y., Cornell, B. 47. 



Breeds of Sheep. An. Rept. of Sec'y of Ag. for Prov. of Nova 

 Scotia, 1907; La. B. 74. 



