QUALIFICATIONS OF BREEDING ANIMALS 77 



he was looking for a low-set type of animal with ample 

 chest capacity and a deep, thick body. His idea in selecting 

 a healthy, robust animal was to get one which would stand 

 the rigorous winters of northern Scotland. It was necessary 

 to select a rugged animal for this purpose and consequently, 

 from his standpoint, individuality was placed ahead of pedi- 

 gree, although only for the reasons stated. Good judgment 

 ordinarily directs emphasis on both these factors. 



Maturity. — Maturity, properly speaking, signifies the 

 period at which an animal reaches full development in bone 

 and muscle. From the market standpoint a mature animal 

 may not have reached or attained full growth or develop- 

 ment. Markets make certain demands for animals of a 

 specified weight and condition; therefore the term maturity 

 is often applied to animals in proper condition to meet the 

 demands of these markets. Maturity, as applied to the 

 breeding animal, signifies full growth and development in 

 every respect in height, weight, form, constitution, and 

 utility. A horse is considered fully mature at four years of 

 age, a bull or cow at three, and swine, sheep, and goats at 

 two.' Many animals, however, reach this age without having 

 attained normal maturity or development. 



This problem is of vital concern in selecting breeding 

 animals. Any animal which is purchased for breeding pur- 

 poses should have attained its proper degree of maturity, 

 considering age, at time of purchase. Development which is 

 lost through improper care, feeding, or management devi- 

 talizes a breeding animal to a degree equal to the deficiency 

 in maturity. The animal used for reproductive purposes 

 should have attained full development, although the progeny 

 is to be placed on the open market before normal maturity 

 is reached. This will insure maximum growth and develop- 

 ment up to the time the animal is placed on the market. 

 Breeding animals which are small, weak, and immature 

 in stature, produce unprofitable market animals, because 

 market maturity is attained at a maximum cost on such 

 animals, due to the failure of the ancestors to transmit 

 this normally rapid early development. 



' Show yard classification, except mature milking form in dairy cattle, 

 is specified as five years. 



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