SYSTEMATIC IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS 197 



even horses, definite classes and grades ^ have long since been 

 established. There are now no less than seven classes and 

 forty-eight grades of market cattle, eight classes and twenty- 

 seven grades of swine, eleven classes and twenty-one subclasses 

 of horses, and seven classes and forty grades of sheep, a few 

 of which are shown in illustrations accompanying this chapter 

 (Figs. 27-33). The value of these different grades varies of 

 course at different times, but relatively the upper grades are 

 out of all proportion with the lower. A careful study of these 

 relative values will convince the student of what can be done 

 by breeding. 



Knowledge of market requirements needful. It is important 

 that the stockman have pretty definite knowledge of market 

 requirements, because they are the standard by which his ani- 

 mals must be sold and by which he will be paid. Want of this 

 information is the cause of thousands of " unclassed " ^ animals 

 upon the market. It is hardly necessary to remark that such 

 animals make the owners little or no money. If, on the other 

 hand, the owner knows in advance what the market will demand, 

 he can shape his ideals and selections accordingly and thereby 

 produce what the buyer really wants. Here is where accurate 

 knowledge and intelligence are necessary to the best success 

 in the live-stock business. 



Exercise. Make a careful study of Chapter XVII, Part II, and get 

 practice in stock judging, as outlined in the Appendix. 



Reference. The Breeders' Gazette^ which ought to be regularly taken 

 by the school. 



* For market classes and grades of cattle see Bulletin yS^ Experiment 

 Station, University of Illinois; for those of swine, see Bulletin 97; for horses, 

 see Bulletin 122; and for sheep, Bulletin i2g. Professor Mumford, head of 

 the department of Animal Husbandry, began this important series of publica- 

 tions with the bulletin on cattle, which was followed by the others mentioned, 

 prepared respectively by his associates. Professor Dietrich, Mr. Obrecht, and 

 Mr. Coffey. In all cases the material was prepared in the stockyards, then 

 submitted to the best experts, and may be considered as authentic. 



2 An unclassed animal is one that does not fall into any of the recognized 

 desirable classes. Such animals make their way into the lower grades, and, 

 as the supply always exceeds the demand, go for an extremely low price. 



