PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING QI 



however, practically as good and there is just as 

 much of it as if the animals were pure bred. 

 Consequently, to any but the man who is raising 

 foundation stock and to the man who is a sen- 

 timentalist, the grade answers admirably, but do 

 not use a grade sire. 



CROSSING EXPLAINED 



Crossing is the mating of two different, distinct 

 races, breeds or varieties in hope of securing an 

 animal that will be of high character. This form 

 is adapted only to the production of new strains 

 and should be handled with a great deal of care, 

 and only by skillful breeders. Practically the only 

 cross that can be employed on the general farm is 

 that used in the production of the mule. The prin- 

 ciples of mule raising are so thoroughly understood 

 and so clearly set forth in another chapter of this 

 book that no argument need be presented here in 

 their favor. Outside of that, crossing is a pretty 

 serious operation and is apt to result in disappoint- 

 ment. There is danger of reversion to the original 

 type and the production of unprofitable animals to 

 so great an extent that, with the single exception 

 referred to, crossing may very wisely be avoided 

 by any except those thoroughly informed. The 

 mating of cattle, for example, of widely divergent 

 type, such as the Shorthorn and the Jersey, is bad 

 practice. You may get neither a good beef 

 animal nor a good dairy animal. Size is lost and 

 lack of uniformity is sure to result. In picking out 

 feeders in any community, the man making the 

 selection will carefully avoid any animal that shows 

 signs of Jersey blood. Not that these crosses are 

 not frequently fattened with profit, but the care 

 and the risk is too great. 



