DOMESTIC ANIMALS 237 



water. They need pure air, but they need also protection against 

 wind and rain, cold and heat. Therefore they should have clean, 

 dry, comfortable quarters. 



Stock should be kept clean, free from ticks and lice, and sick 

 ones should be separated from well ones. Care should be taken to 

 keep the water supply pure, as disease is often caused and spread 

 by impure water. It should always be borne in mind that 'an 

 ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' Usually, animals 

 that have good care, proper food, and pure water are in vigorous 

 health. 



Animals should be kindly treated. 'It is true of them as of men 

 that it is worry not work which kills.' Some men take many 

 dollars out of their own pockets every year by neglect or ill treat- 

 ment of their stock. Neglected, poorly fed, ill-used animals are 

 stunted in growth and stinted in products. Naturally they are 

 unprofitable. 



Breeds. There are some animals that do not repay even good 

 attention. As it costs no more in care and feed to keep good stock 

 than bad, a farmer should try to secure the best. He should 

 select the breeds best adapted to his special purposes, produc- 

 tion of wool or mutton, beef or milk, eggs or chickens, etc. 



It is usually economical to pay higher prices and secure pure- 

 bred animals, that is, those in which the traits desired have by 

 heredity and selection become fixed as habits. Some farmers 

 prefer high-grade stock, a cross between common stock and pure- 

 bred; it is usually hardier than pure-bred and less subject to 

 disease. A pure-bred sire at the head of a flock or herd will add 

 greatly to the value of common stock. 



Whether pure-bred or grade stock be used, inferior specimens 

 should be sold or slaughtered, and food and care given to animals 

 which make the best returns for them. 



