2 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
feed and labor increasing the cost of production and ren- 
dering more imperative the economic efficiency of the 
animal machine itself, affords the strongest argument in 
favor of the high grade animal. 
The breeding of pure-bred live-stock is too often re- 
garded as beyond the concern of the average breeder. 
While he may not be equipped to engage in it himself he 
must be an indirect patron of the pure-bred stud, herd or 
flock if he is to succeed in his business of marketing animals 
or their products. Furthermore, the high grade animal 
embodies to such a great extent the characteristics of the 
breed from which it is derived as to make the study of 
the breeds of as much importance to the breeder of grades 
as to the breeder of pure-breds. 
Cross-breeding is legitimately practiced to some extent, 
but skillful use of the blood of the breeds crossed requires 
intimate knowledge of their inherent possibilities. Failure 
to reckon with these invisible hereditary forces may result 
in some of the most unexpected occurrences with which 
all cross-breeding is more or less fraught. 
Study of the breeds should be undertaken, however, 
with the proper motive and from the correct point of view. 
Each breed has its advocates and it is well that this is so, 
but it is not advisable to “ vote on principle ” in breeds 
as is done in politics. A blindly partisan allegiance to 
any breed may lead a breeder wide of the mark that he 
is striving to attain. An intelligent choice of a breed 
involves first, recognition of the conditions to be met, 
such as markets, facilities with which to cater to their 
demands, the existence of community sentiment and 
reputation, and finally personal fancy; second, knowledge 
of the special adaptability of the Seep eve fies! to meet 
the conditions imposed. 
