438 Western Live-stock Management 



of the period of gestation for different animals is approximately 

 as follows: Horses, 11 months; cattle, 9 months; sheep, 5 

 months; swine, 112 days. 



Grade. This term is often applied to any animal which is 

 not pure-bred. It is more correctly used for stock that carries 

 a considerable percentage of the blood of some one of the im- 

 proved breeds, but that are not entirely of that breeding. Ex- 

 ample : the offspring resulting from the breeding of pure-bred 

 sires to common females. 



In-breeding. Mating very closely related animals as full 

 brother and sister. 



Line-breeding. Mating animals that are related, but which 

 are not as close as brother and sister. 



Mongrel. An animal of nondescript or mixed breeding. 

 Usually used in a derogatory sense. 



Parturition. The act of giving birth to young. Includes the 

 actual delivery of the offspring together with attendant pains 

 and S3TTiptoms. 



Prolificacy. The property of bearing numerous young. 



Pure-bred. An animal carrying only the blood of some one 

 breed. The dividing line between those that are pure-bred and 

 those that are not is usually considered to be registration, or 

 eligibility to registration, with the particular breed associa- 

 tion having charge of the registration of animals of that partic- 

 ular breed. 



Purse. Synonymous with cod. 



Scrotum. The sack which contains the testicles of the male 

 animal. 



Scrub. An animal of inferior merit and usually of mongrel 

 breeding. 



Shrinkage. The loss of weight occurring in the driving, 

 shipping, or handling of stock. Shrinkage is a particularly 

 important item in the marketing, and must always be taken into 

 consideration in comparing the prices a pound at home with 

 the prices offered at the stock-yard. The word shrinkage is 

 sometimes used as synonymous with docking as applied to 

 weight. 



Spaying. The removal of the ovaries or sex glands of the 

 female. 



Stag. A male animal of any kind that has been castrated 



