SUGGESTIONS ON SELECTION 83 



man becomes an important factor. Not as much depends 

 on the breed after these factors have been determined as the 

 kind of care and management which will be given the indi- 

 vidual or herd. 



Established Herds. Annuals purchased from old estab- 

 lished herds usually have a higher intrinsic value than 

 individuals of apparently equal qualifications from a herd 

 of shorter duration. It is better to select animals from a 

 herd which has made a permanent reputation rather than 

 from one which has only attained a few years of superficial 

 success. If more animals were so purchased from breeders 

 who maintain a single-type standard the various breeds 

 of live stock would advance more rapidly than at present. 

 While it would not be possible for the few old-established 

 breeders of live stock to supply the numerous calls, an effort 

 to patronize them would of necessity place the live stock 

 breeding industry on a higher plane. 



The veteran breeder of pure-bred animals should receive 

 greater commendation, as breeders of this stamp are usually 

 sufficiently far-sighted to see that an extraordinary animal 

 is never placed in the hands of an inexperienced breeder. 

 One herd so started which proves to be a failure is very 

 detrimental to the best interests of the breed. One unsuccess- 

 ful herd is responsible for keeping a great many otherwise 

 successful men out of the business. 



The average man can breed any number of inferior animals 

 which his financial condition will justify, but to produce 

 successful herd headers is a problem which only the best 

 breeders have been able to accomplish. When buying 

 from one of these old-established herds, regardless of whether 

 it is intact, there is reasonable assurance that the purchaser 

 is getting good individuals with strong, pure-bred lineage, 

 individuality, and quality. 



Herd Records. The dairy cow is the principal animal 

 where the real productiveness can be actually measured. 

 It is unfortunate from the standpoint of practical herd 

 improvement that the capacity of all farm animals cannot 

 be measured or determined in this way. Endurance or speed 

 records and block tests are the only other real determinations 



