THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
INTRODUCTION 
THE STUDY OF THE BREEDS 
IN this era of improved live-stock husbandry it is more 
the exception than the rule to find horses, cattle, sheep, 
hogs and even chickens that do not show the distinguish- 
ing characters of some breed predominating their physical 
makeup. The true mongrel of nondescript breeding is 
in the minority. How has this come about? Does 
it reflect, in exact measure, the success of the breed 
associations and others in their efforts to promote the 
interests of their respective breeds, or a general sentimen- 
tal preference for the pure-bred sire? Neither —it is an 
economic problem. The most convincing basis upon 
which to argue is one of dollars and cents and the grade 
has demonstrated itself to be a better business proposi- 
tion than the mongrel. It is more reasonable to suppose 
that a cow, for example, which has inherited from her 
sire, if not from her dam also, the cumulative high pro- 
duction that has been sought through a long line of an- 
cestors, will be more productive than one whose incentive 
to give milk is merely incident to maternity. 
With a variety of breeds, each endowed with greater 
proficiency for some special performance or production, 
the grade has become the only animal worth feeding. 
Competition in the marketing of products, high-priced 
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