ATTRIBUTES OF THE BREEDER 425 



in other words, must be a keen student of animal form and 

 attainments. He must be able to detect to a reasonable 

 degree of accuracy the probable outcome of the individuals 

 which he chooses to raise the standard of his herd. It is 

 only by continuous elimination, generation after generation, 

 that the maximum results of selection are obtained. There 

 must be a standard or an ideal toward which breeding opera- 

 tions may be directed. This involves an unusual amount of 

 animal knowledge, both as applied to the individual, the 

 herd and the breed which is being perfected or improved. 



Fig. 180. — Uniform type, illustrating careful judging and selection for the 



show ring. 



Attributes of the Breeder Responsible for Degree of Improve- 

 ment. — A proper knowledge of the habits and treatment 

 of animals is most important from the breeder's point of 

 view. Those who have been intimately associated with 

 animals during their entire lifetime almost without exception 

 rank as the keenest judges and breeders of live stock. The 

 best shepherds are those who have assisted and grown in 

 the ranks from early life to finally attain the management of a 

 flock. It is not only a knowledge of animals which may 

 have been obtained early or late in life but the direct associa- 

 tion in feeding and management which makes the best 

 judge, and therefore the best breeder. A first-class judge 

 who produces prize-winning animals is almost invariably 



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