30 FORM, FUNCTION, AND CAPACITY 



being directly antagonistic to the maximum degree of milk 

 production. The wool sheep is measured in value by its 

 output of wool, regardless of its value from the mutton 

 standpoint. The value of the horse is measured in terms of 

 muscular development, although the kind of work and its 

 degree of attainment is greatly different from that expected 

 in meat-producing animals. The character of the muscular 

 system is a measure of work in some form, yet association 

 with other attributes should be clearly fixed because of the 

 final bdance of the manifestations enumerated under form, 

 function, and capacity. 



Digestive System. — The digestive system of an animal is 

 of specific importance because an animal grows and becomes 

 useful to a degree dependent on the amount of food consumed 

 and its elaboration or manifestation in the various forms of 

 animal energy, whether it is meat, milk, wool, or horse 

 power. The measure of value in an animal is therefore 

 determined by the digestive capacity to a degree depending 

 on the character of energy to be produced. The manifesta- 

 tion of a strong digestive system is e\ddenced in the length, 

 depth and width of the barrel, this in turn being influenced 

 largely by the maximum degree of development possible 

 in the bony framework. The direct association of this 

 attribute with constitution, \'igor, and general capacity is 

 readily apparent from an analysis of these various factors 

 in detail. 



Circulatory System. — The bony framework, the muscular 

 development and the digestive system constitute the gross 

 attainments necessary for an animal to assume shape and 

 continue normal development when properly associated 

 with the other life-gi\'ing functions. From the stockman's 

 point of view there is nothing more important than the 

 circulatory system on which life-giving depends directly, 

 and in one instance the development of a specific function, 

 namely, the milk-giving capacity of the dairy cow. In 

 formulating the \'alue of a dairy animal one of the chief 

 requisites for consideration is the degree of de\-elopment 

 of the circulatory system, especially as evidenced in the 

 mammary system. The elaboration of milk from the gross 



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