SELECTION OF THE HERD BULL 155 



developed until she produces many times the product of her 

 ancestors, and is really abnormal in this respect. This power 

 of producing enormous quantities of milk, being an acquired 

 characteristic, is easily lost; and in the case of cows many 

 revert to the older type, and are the unprofitable producers 

 that have to be culled constantly from any herd. 



Since the producing of large quantities of milk is not natural, 

 but acquired, it is only by constant selection that this char- 

 acteristic can be retained. Unless selection is made, not 

 only will no progress be made, but the tendency will be back- 

 ward . To even retain the milking qualities of a good grade herd 

 at a uniform level, it is necessary to use a bull better bred 

 than are the cows. This makes it imperative, in all 

 herds where any attempt is made to advance, or even retain 

 a high dairy quality, that the sire be selected with great care, 

 especially regarding the dairy qualities of his nearest female 

 ancestors. 



Almost any pure-bred bull with good milking ancestry 

 will improve a mixed herd or one of poor dairy quality; but 

 for the highly developed herd it is a much more serious mat- 

 ter to select the proper bull. The breeder of high-class pure- 

 bred animals recognizes the highly important fact that a bull 

 may not transmit the desirable qualities of his ancestors to 

 the full degree. This class of breeders are always anxious 

 to make use of an animal known to transmit the qualities 

 desired. An animal that transmits characteristics with uni- 

 formity to its offspring is said to be prepotent. 



The remarkable variation in the transmission of dairy 

 qualities by different bulls is shown by the results from the 

 University of Missouri Jersey herd. In 1884 this institution 

 purchased four registered Jersey cows, and the entire herd on 



