BREEDING FARM ANIMALS 



555 



retained as breeders in the herd, as this has a tendency to cause sterility 

 in the breeding animals, besides retarding progress in building up the herd. 

 Selection of a Breed. — The selection of the breed of animals must be 

 determined by the farmer or livestock grower, as there is no such thing as 

 the "best breed." All breeds of livestock have been developed for a 

 definite purpose and among all breeds are found desirable and undesirable 

 individuals. In deciding upon a breed, the farmer should secure all data 

 available about the breeds in which he is interested and adopt the one that 



Pure-bred Shorthorn Bull. 1 



will best suit his conditions. It is highly important that he select good 

 individuals of the breed adopted and that he continue with that breed 

 indefinitely. To change breeds at the end of one or two years is not con- 

 ducive to improvement, and means a loss of time. It is important to select 

 representative animals that possess pronounced characteristics of the breed, 

 and if possible to secure animals with a known ancestry. In the selecting 

 of a brood sow as an illustration, such sow should come from a prolific 



1 Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



