6j 2 PRACTICAL PROBLEMS 



If this is ever to be done, some feasible plan must be devised. 

 Now in this matter two things are self-evident : first, such truth- 

 ful and critical description could not be made, or at least made 

 public, during the lifetime of the animal, while large commercial 

 interests were involved ; and second, more than one man's judg- 

 ment should be consulted in making the actual record. 



The writer ventures to suggest that while the animal lives, 

 and is in his prime, and while his character and achievements 

 are well known, a full statement of his achievements be made 

 and two critical descriptions be prepared, one by the owner, 

 the other by a committee of the association, all to find a per- 

 manent place in the published records of the breed. 



How this object can be achieved is problematical, but until it 

 can be achieved, the best results in animal breeding will never 

 be possible. One thing is certain, the public at large and the 

 association of breeders in particular have an inherent, if not a 

 vested right, in every animal that comes prominently before the 

 public, and sometime, in some way, this larger right of public 

 ownership will be conceded greatly to the general interests of 

 the breed and to the convenience of future breeders ; in other 

 words, not even private commercial interests will always inter- 

 vene to prevent a record of the facts, until, by the death of all 

 parties possessing actual knowledge, the real personality of a 

 famous animal has become lost beyond the power of restoration. 



The blood of not only one famous animal but of many famous 

 animals runs through the pedigrees of all our herds. The fame 

 of some of them rested on real excellence and well-earned merit ; 

 that of others was due chiefly to skillful management, often to 

 shrewd advertising. Animals of both classes possessed points 

 of high excellence, and both classes also possessed defects. The 

 public has a right to the facts, which are no less than a vested 

 interest to every man who owns a breeding herd. 



SECTION VIII DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS FEMALES 



The herd itself must make the first draft upon its female 

 output in order to secure material to reenforce its numbers. 

 Some females will be needed by other breeders of standing to 



