INDIVIDUAL MERIT 65 



should be given consideration only to the extent which it is 

 indicative of immediate health .and vigor. 



A capable judge will recognize the characteristics indicating 

 constitution even without making a special examination of 

 the animal. A full, broad head, a large muzzle and open 

 nostrils, a full, deep chest and barrel which indicate capacity, 

 aptly characterize an animal with strong constitutional 

 development. The reverse characteristics, such as a long, 

 narrow head, a pointed muzzle and small nostrils, a narrow, 

 shallow chest, and a long, loosely coupled body indicate a 

 decided weakness. Such animals should never be used in a 

 breeding herd as they will neither breed nor develop into 

 satisfactory breeding or market individuals. Animals of 

 this type are usually the result of indiscriminate breeding, 

 although occasionally they appear in well-bred herds. 

 This may be the result of faulty management in early life. 

 However, it is more often the result of some constitutional 

 fault or defect in the ancestral animals. The best results 

 can never be obtained from a breeding or market animal 

 which is lacking in the factors which help to maintain 

 the vital functions. Many animals, however, are so main- 

 tained and bred, generation after generation, only to add to 

 the number of weak, impotent individuals. 



Constitution in the breeding animal is analogous to 

 endurance in the speed animal. Without it neither can 

 perform their functions satisfactorily. While it is an attri- 

 bute of importance in block animals, it is of unusual 

 importance in breeding, work, or speed animals. It does 

 not matter to what extent an animal is endowed with other 

 special functions, unless it has the constitution to balance 

 the other necessary attributes of milk, beef or speed, there 

 cannot be a maximum amount of energy developed or work 

 performed. Constitution is of first and last importance in 

 a breeding animal, not only to perfect maturity of its own 

 body but that of the growing fetus and those of future 

 development. A dairy cow may possess a maximum amount 

 of quality, the highest developed nervous temperament, but 

 unless she is endowed with the vitality to continue the milk- 

 producing function, such an animal is extremely faulty, both 

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