HYGIENE OF BEEEDING 877 



the prize money should always go to the man who has 

 prepared the animal for show. 



The breeder's success will also depend to a large extent 

 on the possession of that more or less innate faculty for 

 the selection of breeding stock and successful mating, which 

 is known as the ' breeder's instinct.' This faculty is not 

 possessed by all alike, and is probably to a certain extent 

 inborn, but must always be based on a thorough knowledge 

 of the animal, a feature which can, of course, be very 

 largely cultivated. In addition, the breeder will require to 

 have a thoroughly practical knowledge of farming and the 

 management of grazing land, and of the care and feeding 

 of stock at all ages and times. 



Without this knowledge and the careful application of 

 it, his efforts will constantly be counterbalanced by the 

 unfavourable conditions under which his stock is reared. 



A certain amount of capital will be required to obtain 

 a good foundation for his stock, but money alone will 

 not insure success without the above-mentioned qualifica- 

 tions. 



Finally, the breeder should keep careful records of all 

 pedigrees and the results he obtains, as in this way only 

 can he avail himself to the full of the experience gained. 



Suitability of Locality and Climate. — The next point re- 

 quiring most careful consideration is the suitability of the 

 land and climate to the particular classes of animal to be 

 raised on it. 



It is quite useless to attempt to produce the best of any 

 class of animal on land and in a climate which is not 

 completely suited to it, unless the system of breeding is 

 to be an almost purely artificial one, in which case the 

 expense will be excessive and quite impracticable for any 

 but the most expensive classes of stock, such as race-horses 

 and show animals. 



Under any circumstances, this artificial system of breed- 

 ing is not to be recommended, as it always has an ill-effect 

 on the constitution of the stock as a whole. Before com- 

 mencing operations, then, the breeder should take every 



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