186 JUDGING JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES 



should be strongly developed in the region of the reproduc- 

 tive organs and be thoroughly feminine in appearance. 

 Breeding qualifications are fundamentally the same as in 

 judging the mare, other than the normal peculiarities 

 involved. 



Uses. Jacks and jennets, from a commercial viewpoint, 

 are used entirely for breeding purposes. The ultimate 

 object is the perpetuation of the male for the production of 

 mules, which are rapidly increasing in importance. The 

 judging of jacks and jennets should be considered on a basis 

 of their adaptability for breeding high-class mules. The 

 opposite cross made by mating the stallion with the jennet, 

 which produces the hinney, is not of great importance. Be- 

 cause of this peculiar adaptability of the jack in mule pro- 

 duction greater attention should be given to the outcome 

 of the cross, when judging the jack, than otherwise. This 

 emphasizes the importance of having a definite knowledge 

 of the results which will be obtained when a jack of a certain 

 type is crossed on mares of different types. Judging jacks 

 and jennets therefore brings in greater speculation than when 

 judging other classes of breeding animals. Their commercial 

 value for this reason depends almost entirely on their heredi- 

 tary qualities. Their value in the judging ring is not, there- 

 fore, determined on their conformation absolutely but on the 

 probable "nick" or blend which will be made on the females 

 to which they are bred for mule production. 



Selection. In selecting a jack consideration should be 

 given to the environment to which the animal has been 

 subjected. Jacks which have been reared with jennets 

 do not cross successfully on mares for mule production. 

 This is a trait peculiar to the hybrid cross and, consequently, 

 a factor of special significance in purchasing a jack. Jacks 

 which prove to be the most successful for mule breeding 

 are those which have been reared in company with horse 

 colts, young mares, or fillies, therefore jacks should be 

 purchased from farms where such environment has been 

 provided. 



