CHAPTER IV 

 Development of Productivity Registers 



The basis of any constructive breeding program consists of a 

 register showing the exact breeding of an animal and a register 

 showing the productivity of the animal, its ancestors, and offspring. 

 Of the published data, the advanced registry records of the dif- 

 ferent breed associations are the chief sources of information here 

 in the United States. The cow testing associations also obtain 

 records but these are not in an easily available form for inheritance 

 work. In Scotland, Ayrshire records are recorded by the Cattle 

 Milk Records Committee. In Denmark records similar to our cow 

 testing records are obtained. 



Each student may be assigned a breed of dairy cattle in the 

 United States to look up its advanced registry system, how it com- 

 menced, by whom it was commenced, and what the requirements 

 for entry were. What changes have been made in these require- 

 ments since the beginning of the recording of these productivity 

 records? In view of the history of the advanced registries write a 

 paper on the suitability of the records for inheritance work and for 

 the use of the breeder as a guide to his breeding operations. Note 

 especially the possible influence of the requirement for entry, see 

 M. S., chapter VIII. 



Let the student hunt up his own reference material in such sources 

 as the Experiment Station Record. 



Supplementary exercise: Examine the rules of the different cow 

 testing associations in this country and abroad for their adequacy 

 in furnishing facts on which to base the following : 



1. Selecting cattle for breeding. 



2. Ease of pedigreeing animals. 



3. When the pedigrees of an animal are made, the ease with which 

 the production records of each ancestor may be added to the pedi- 

 gree. 



4. Determining a cow's own production and her probable subse- 

 quent production. See also M. S., Chapter VI. 



30 



