82 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



both parents, the mating is considered to be most successful. 

 At the same time it is almost never fully attained. It is 

 approached in proportion to the similarity of the parents. 

 Uniformity of type and characteristics in a herd or flock is one 

 of the very desirable things, for many reasons. The uniformity 

 that is secured by reason of the equal degree of characters secured 

 from each parent is the most desirable type of uniformity. 



More often the offspring will resemble one parent more than 

 the other, and in this case one parent is said to be prepotent 

 over the other. This resemblance will vary from a very slight 

 preponderance of the characteristics of one parent, up to a great 

 over-balance, amounting almost to a complete exclusion of the 

 characteristics of the other parent. This question of prepo- 

 tency is one of the most important having to do with selection, 

 and one which will be further discussed in the chapters on 

 breeding the various classes of farm animals. 



When the offspring shows no resemblance to either parent, 

 but to some near ancestor, it is called reversion ; if to some of the 

 far removed ancestors it is called atavism: Examples are often 

 seen : as, in the case of a pure Angus cow, which is naturally 

 black, giving birth to a red calf; the case of Poland China 

 swine, naturally black, occasionally possessing a sandy tint on 

 the hair. 



Two animals to be suitable for mating must be alike in gen- 

 eral physical characters. Otherwise the outcome of a union 

 cannot be foretold,. When the offspring shows good qualities, 

 the mating of the parents is considered a fortunate nick. The 

 history of farm animals is full of such nicks. The success or 

 failure of a stock breeder very often depends on his ability to 

 discover these nicks and to make use of them. Some breeders 

 become very skilful in these matters, even though they may 

 not be able to give reasons for their choice or to instruct 

 others in the same methods. Very often these are untaught 

 and unread men. 



