Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-23
From The Au'srican Stock Juurnal.
Breedinr-Cattle NJ Fairs.

Ae ANN SEASON mas NAN AlNANtA NNNn NiN
greater portion Of the Agricultural Societies
Of the United States hold their annual fairs,
and The merits Of competing animals are
every whore being determined, We desrre to
call the especial attention OF the awarding
committees 70 an error which Is often made
ia determining the relative value Of breed
lns animals. Thus error consists IN giving
precedence 90 extraordinary large, and eE-
cocliugy fii animals, rather than 10 those
Of more symmetrical fgurc- ils5 ,IirardgaHi-
~ faii,i. The end Of all cattle is the batch.
cr's. aud those which produce beet at the
least cost per pound are the ones TO breed
ir1m. Animals possessing compact, SYM
mrirical figures take on lat much more read
lis than those which are larger and coarscr,
aud therefore symmetry i. matter Of PR.
mary importance. Tho most symmetrical
animal, arr usually those. Of medium sirc.
ane hence animals Of medium size should
beprcl,rrcJ. An animals when grown much
above the ordinary standard, or type Of the
race. have a manilcs, tendency 70 become
coarse formed aud loose ointei, aud all such
ar. unrrlGatle feeders. IL j. true some-
time, we see an OK grown good deal above
,he IN dium size, and Yet possessing very
good 6gure, bat 10 j. 70 BE- sT'raordi11riiy
borne IN mind that such are the srospi'oES TO
a well-y,abli,hci general law, aud not the
law it.c,f.
Very TAT animals should no, be allowed to
c1mpe,, for premiums as breeders, for sew
eral reasons. When in thi, unnlturally
high condition they very rarely can produce
oa.prins, and eanno, therefore be properly
called .' breeding animals" It would DO
maui,cs,ly absurd 20 award a poor OK pro-
MUM over a very ai one in the class Of IA,
cattle. on the ground tha, be could be put
IN suitable condition. Why. then, award
a premium ioa COW As breeder when she
isin 20 condition to breed The poor OK may
never become tat, and what assurance have
you iha; the pamPerel, and exceedingly fai
COW will ever have a calf? Again a super
abundance of H. 30 cover. up the detective
points, and alters the general appearance Of
an animal that il D, impossible 70 form a
correct Judgment as to thc relative size and
proportion Of the several parts were it in a
moro natural condition. A knowledge OF
the,ua.ural form should constitute the basis
Of any Judgment a. TO the value Of the aui-
nal a. breeder, and It Is clear thi, juds-
msnt must p, uncertain. and unreliable
when shc natural figure Of the .uIjec, OF II,
has been o,gE.a.i anI hidden by au unua,u-
"a, amoun, OF tat.
Letu not De misunderstood We should
exceedingly rssre, 10 &c premiums AWARDED
70 dwarfs or s,arvclinss. Let AL prize anl.
ma. come fully up to medium size. b. in
toll enjoyment Of sound and vigorous health,
aud in sufficiently high condition to enable
them o. perform m the best manner all the
animal functions
Animals OF extraordinary size, or extra
ordinary Il 81. are objects Of curiosity, and
when placed upon exhibition, Away, at
tract a crowd OF spectators and We believe
awarding committee. have been sometimes
mi,lcd, by auribuunr the excited attention
oftbe people, 10 the supposed hnc character
OF the animal, rather than 70 the simple
fact that il was an object Of curiosity, aud
have been LED TO adopt what they supposed
60 bc the judgment Of the multitude rather
than their own.
The officers " our Agricultural Societies
should earnestly enleavor to form the award
iue committee. ofgyutIcmen, Who not only
have a discriminating Judgment in relation
1, the matter. referred TO them, butwho arc
a'.o possessed OF that independence aud force
Of character, which is Indispensable to tue
fearless aud impartial decision Of the ques-
lions submitted to them.