108 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



which has followed in numerous instances amongst 

 every breed of animals. 



The principal use of crossing, however, is to raise 

 animals for the butcher. In this respect it has not 

 (with sheep) been adopted to the extent which it might 

 to advantage. The male being generally an animal of 

 a superior breed and of a vigorous nature, almost inva- 

 riably stamps his external form, size and muscular 

 development on the offspring, which thus bear a strong 

 resemblance to him, whilst their internal nature derived 

 from the dam, well adapts them to the locality, as well 

 as to the treatment to which their dams have been 

 accustomed. 



With regard to cattle, the system cannot be so advan- 

 tageously pursued (except for the purpose of improving 

 the size and qualities of the calf, where veal is the 

 object) in as much as every required qualification for 

 breeding purposes can be obtained by using animals of 

 the pure breeds. But with sheep, where the peculiari- 

 ties of the soil as regards the goodness of feed, and 

 exposure to the severities of the weather, often prevent 

 the introduction of an improved breed, the value of 

 using a new and superior ram is often very considera- 

 ble, and the weight of mutton is materially increased, 

 without its quality being impaired, while earlier matu- 

 rity is at the same time obtained. It involves, how- 

 ever, more systematic attention than farmers usually 

 like to bestow, for it is necessary to employ a different 

 ram for each purpose ; that is, a native ram for a por- 

 tion of the ewes to keep up the purity of the breed, and 



