8 
Breeding of Farm-Stock. 
milkinc: character is not generally possessed by liigh-bred stock, 
they would, by this rule, be set aside (in the majority of instances) 
as not being the best adapted for this object, and practice con- 
firms this view. This capability of the dam to nourish and 
support the offspring should, of course, be accompanied by a 
well-formed and roomy body capable of affording the young 
suitable accommodation for their development and growth. 
But the chief point we have here to regard is that the progeny 
should have, by nature and character, a special capacity for the 
economical production of meat, or, in fact, be good machines 
for changing vegetable productions of various kinds into animal 
matter. Here again the evidence of practice is very decided, as 
showing that our well-bred stock will produce more meat from a 
given quantity of food than those of inferior quality. I have 
shown in other communications* in what manner the system of 
management adopted and the peculiar conformation of the body 
v/hich is possessed by all well-bred stock — whether cattle, sheep, 
or pigs — promotes the economical production of meat. It is 
enough for our present purpose to record the fact that the square- 
ness of frame, the small proportion of offal, the docile dispo- 
sition, and the smallness of the lungs possessed by all animals of 
this description are well calculated to favour the production of 
the largest quantity of meat of the best quality from any given 
quantity of food with the least loss in its conversion. These, 
therefore, are most important points of character to be imparted 
to any animnl which is simply to be used as a means for pro- 
ducing a certain amount of animal food. For these reasons, the 
dam should be well-formed, healthy, and a good milker, and the 
young animal should receive from its parents that conformation 
of body and constitution which render our high-bred stock sucb 
economical producers of meat. These are, however, in some 
degree antagonistic requirements ; for, as we have before seen, 
those animals which possess a strong tendency for the formation 
of fat are not generally remarkable for being good milkers : yet 
such a combination is desirable if it can be attained, and the 
two objects are not irreconcilable. Practically, there will be no 
difficulty in selecting a well-formed healthy female, capable of 
nourishing her progeny in a satisfactory manner, and we must 
endeavour to communicate to the offspring those necessary quali- 
fications which are deficient in the female by means of the sire. 
To accomplish this result, a male should be selected which has 
been very carefully bred, and whose ancestry during several 
preceding generaticms has possessed those qualifications which 
distinguish well-bred stock as economical producers of meat. 
* ' Journal of Highland Agricultural Society,' No. LXIX., page 321. ' Journal 
of Bath and West of England Agricultural Society,' vol. vii. page 57. 
