The Principles of Breeding / or, Glimpses at the Physiological Laws involved in the Reproduction and Improvement of Domestic Animals

A practical manual outlines the physiological principles that govern reproduction and improvement in domestic animals, translating laws of similarity, variation, atavism, parental influence, and sex determination into guidance on inbreeding, crossing, and line-breeding. It advises farmers to define clear breeding objectives—dairy, meat, wool, or draft—and to choose methods that suit local circumstances, balancing fertility, productivity, and care. Chapters explain hereditary tendencies, how ancestral traits may reappear, and how selective mating with persistent management can reshape breed characteristics, offering practical recommendations to enhance stock quality and farm profitability.