98 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



Yes, in a way he is more than half of the herd. He is responsi- 

 l)le for half of the characteristics of all the offspring. One 

 sire can be used to every 20 to 100 dams. Therefore, 

 sires can be much more closely culled than dams and the sire 

 should be much better than the average of the dams in any 

 herd. In this way he is responsible for more than half of the 

 improvement that is made. If he is improperly selected, 

 retrogression in a herd will be rapid. As an individual the 

 sire is only one in a herd but as an influence he is by far the 

 better half. 



As an illustration, suppose that a bull will sire 40 calves in 

 a herd a year for four years. This will make 160 calves and 

 suppose that each calf on account of the good characteristics 

 of the bull is worth only $10 more than a calf by an ordinary 

 bull. This is easily possible from the farmer's standpoint 

 and will make the bull worth $1600. From a breeder's stand- 

 point a sire frequently adds $25, $50 and even $100 to the value 

 of each of his offspring. 



In selecting animals for a breeding herd, both sire and dam 

 should be well developed in the points mentioned in Chapter 

 III; namely, in quality, wealth of flesh, constitution, length of 

 body, form, condition, temperament, etc. If the dams are 

 weak in any particular point the sire should be selected to be 

 especially strong in this respect. 



ENVIRONMENT 



There are three principal factors in dealing with animals, 

 namely, breeding, feeding and environment. The latter 

 includes all the conditions to which the animal is subjected 

 not included in the other two. Environment, therefore, in- 

 cludes such factors as shelter, pasture or range for exercise, 

 as compared with confinement, temperature of surroundings, 

 humidity of air, dryness of soil, topography of country, shelter 

 for stock, etc. 



Environment like breeding and feeding is a factor of im- 

 portance. The condition under which animals are kept may 

 be so abnormal as to result in ill health and even death in a 

 comparatively short time. As an example of this, the question 

 of thumps in pigs may be mentioned. If pigs are kept confined 



