590 PRACTICAL PROBLEMS 



In truth we have little exact information on which to rely, but 

 the writer seriously questions the correctness of this conclusion 

 from the standpoint of the offspring. That breeding at an imma- 

 ture age checks the growth of females is next to certain, but it is 

 also true that the heifer will make a better milker and a more cer- 

 tain breeder if bred before maturity and before functions other 

 than milk production have become the prevailing habit of life. 



That the progeny of immature animals is necessarily faulty 

 is doubtful. In nature everywhere reproduction begins before 

 maturity, and in man at least it has been shown that the length 

 of life of first children is, on the average, four years more than 

 that of the latest born. 



Considerations already advanced in connection with testing 

 breeders necessitate the breeding at a comparatively advanced 

 age, and all things point to the conclusion that in practice breed- 

 ing may begin early and continue as long as possible. Merely to 

 gain time, if for no other reason, early breeding is to be advocated. 



Blemishes and accidental injuries. Notwithstanding popular 

 opinion, the breeding animal is none the worse for accidental 

 injury ; that is, so far as his or her breeding value is concerned. 

 The question is not whether the mare is spavined, but what kind 

 of a hock had she naturally, and had she sufficient occasion to 

 be spavined. It is easy to make a bad showing and to say bitter 

 things about the practice of breeding injured animals, but the 

 evidence on inheritance all shows that injuries as such are not 

 transmitted. This should not free the mind from the obligation 

 to judge accurately as to whether the part was naturally perfect 

 or naturally defective. 



Difficulties in selection increase rapidly with the number of 

 points on which selection is to be based. This purely mathematical 

 consideration seems not to arrest the attention of breeders as it 

 should. If we select for one point only we get ahead rapidly. 

 That has been the advantage of the trotter. Speed was the only 

 requirement, and while it involved many subordinate conditions, 

 such as a perfect body, vigor, enduranre, mental courage, and 

 determination, yet no other requirement has been added. Color, 

 size, style, action, conformation, all have been disregarded 

 for the one object, speed. 



