48 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



produced or found in the breed. This individual is an 

 example of progression. 



Prepotency. The ability of an individual, either male 

 or female, to stamp or fix a certain character or several char- 

 acters on the offspring is called prepotency. Either parent, . 

 for instance, may be prepotent in transmitting to the pro- 

 geny high egg production, size, desirable color of plumage, 

 etc. On the other hand a parent may be prepotent in its 

 ability to impress certain undesirable characters such as 

 knock-knees, side sprigs, etc. 



Fecundity is the abihty to reproduce the species. In 

 the case of fowls where eggs are the means of reproduction 

 as well as a source of food, we speak of a hen as being fecund 

 from the standpoint of her ability to reproduce her kind. 

 Fecundity is measured by the number of eggs produced in 

 a given period. 



Inbreeding. Inbreeding involves the mating of closely 

 related individuals. The purpose of inbreeding is to con- 

 centrate blood lines or intensify such characters as are desir- 

 able, in order to strengthen the established qualities. Care 

 should be taken when inbreeding to avoid selecting a male or 

 female, if possible, that possesses undesirable qualities, which 

 are apt to be intensified as well as the desirable characters. 



Line breeding. This system of breeding refers to limit- 

 ing the selection and mating of individuals within a single 

 family or strain, the purpose of which is to make a more 

 rapid improvement of desirable characters or qualities. 

 Line breeding necessarily is a form of inbreeding wherein, 

 however, close inbreeding is avoided. In the strict inter- 

 pretation of line breeding it should not involve the intro- 

 duction of an individual that is unrelated or from a different 

 family or strain. 



Outbreeding, or outcrossing. It frequently happens in 

 breeding practice that new blood is introduced into the 



