Inbreeding 6L 
the half-bloods, and frequently show little, if any, 
increase in average production, though a few indi- 
viduals will show a marked improvement. The ques- 
tion then comes as to how to secure a greater uni- 
formity and a higher average production in the second 
generation or the three-quarter-bloods. 
If the selection of the original pure-bred bull has 
been a wise one, and if he was a young animal at the 
time of his purchase, there will be a considerable 
number of his half-blood offspring ready to be bred 
while he is still in the zenith of his powers. Most 
breeders hesitate to breed such an animal to his own 
offspring, and it is seldom recommended. But if 
inbreeding is ever likely to be followed with useful 
results, it will be under just such conditions; and, 
in proportion as both the bull and the half-blood 
heifers show strong individual vital powers, the prac- 
tice is to be recommended. In a majority of cases 
the very best bull to breed to a lot of high-quality, 
uniform, half-blood heifers is their own sire, if it is 
desired to secure greater uniformity and greater aver- 
age production in their offspring. The reason for the 
lack of uniformity in‘ the three-quarter-bred offspring 
is the fact that reversions occur to the qualities of 
their common and mixed grandmothers. It will re- 
quire, then, even stronger prepotency to overcome this 
tendency to reversion, and the animal which is most 
likely to be prepotent over such half-bloods is their 
own sire. 
It must be remembered that the improved produc- 
tion in the first place was secured by improving the 
