Inbreeding 6L 



the half-bloods, and frequently show little, if any, 

 increase in average production, though a few indi- 

 viduals will show a marked improvement. The ques- 

 tion then comes as to how to secure a greater uni- 

 formity and a higher average production in the second 

 generation or the three -quarter -bloods. 



If the selection of the original pure -bred bull has 

 been a wise one, and if he was a young animal at the 

 time of his purchase, there will be a considerable 

 number of his half-blood offspring ready to be bred 

 while he is still in the zenith of his powers. Most 

 breeders hesitate to breed such an animal to his own 

 offspring, and it is seldom recommended. But if 

 inbreeding is ever likely to be followed with useful 

 results, it will be under just such conditions; and, 

 in proportion as both the bull and the half-blood 

 heifers show strong individual vital powers, the prac- 

 tice is to be recommended. In a majority of cases 

 the very best bull to breed to a lot of high-quality, 

 uniform, half-blood heifers is their own sire, if it is 

 desired to secure greater uniformity and greater aver- 

 age production in their offspring. The reason for the 

 lack of uniformity in the three -quarter -bred offspring 

 is the fact that reversions occur to the qualities of 

 their common and mixed grandmothers. It will re- 

 quire, then, even stronger prepotency to overcome this 

 tendency to reversion, and the animal which is most 

 likely to be prepotent over such half-bloods is their 

 own sire. 



It must be remembered that the improved produc- 

 tion in the first place was secured by improving the 



