Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-05-23
-A.G RICULTUR AL.
The Selection of Brcediug Animals.


The season is close at hand when the
raisers of horses and cattle will select their
breeding animals, aud in this the almost
care should be used and COED degree OF
judgment exercised. as OF the sire aud dam
depends almost entirely the value Of the
progeny. We are happy to believe that
this fact, new to some though il be, is very
generally understood by all who can fairly
be termed breeders OF any class Of our do
nestle animals, and especially the most
valuable ones. Ii il had been pracliced up
on by breeders and farmers generally for
years back, our eyes would not be panied
with the sight of so many poor. worthless
horses and cattle as we now see upon al
smost every hand, nor should we hear so
many complain that there is no profit in
raising horses and cattle for the market.
Those who produce the poorest animals are
always the ones who make the loudest COM
plants of the want of remnnerative profits.
Every intelligent breeder known that "lke
produces like" and that the progeny will
inherit the good or bad qualities OF the par
\ ents, and that sound aud healthy offspring
>cannot be expected il either parent is dis
.eased or unsound. The defects or unsound-
ness may not show themselves ia the young
animal. but it is latent and will sooner or
later make its appearance, even more surely
than the desirable qualities. ami
smals should not only be- sonnd and healthy
themselves, but they should be from sound
and healthy families on both sides. Ii there
is disease or predisposition to disease in
tb.r ha IN
'or bone Of the progeny. Il may not even
sshow itself in the first generation, but it is
ahere and will surely come out sometime.
Many aye, too many, fatter themselves
that ii the dam is imperfect in constitution
or conformation, and the sire possesses in an
eminent degree the qualities she is deficient
in, the progeny may inherit, in considera-
bile degree the good qualities OF the sire.
This is a sad mistake, and especially so
when the sire is overtaxed. The bad quail
ties of the dam may, and quite likely will
neutralize the good ones of the sire. Blood
from the sire and beauty from the dam, is
sthe generally admitted rule. Ii certain
kind of horse is wanted, both parents should
be selected with view to producing it, and
so with neat stock and other animals. IfI
you desire a roarer, select sire and dam
both of which are roarers, and you will be
pretty sure to get one, since diseases and i'm
PROJECTIONS are transmitted more surely than
good qualities.
Says modern writes, 4" The brood mare
should be as near perfection as the artificial
state Of the animal will allow at all events,
1T is the most important point of all /; and in
every case the mare should be very care
fully examined with view to discover what
Elevations from natural state have been
entaled upon her by her own labors, and
what she has inherited from her ancestors
independently OF the consequence OF acci
dents, all devIations from state of health |
in the mare may be considered as more or
less transmitted to her, because in thro-
'oughly sound condition, no ordinary treat
ment such as training consists of, will pro-
sduce disease; and it is only hereditary pre-
disposition which, under this process, entails |
its appearance. Still there are positive, |
mparative and superlatiye degrees f OBJ
Jectionabe diseases incidental 10 the brood |
mare, which should be accepted or refused
accordingly. All accidental defects, such as
broken knees, dislocated hips, or even
''breaks-dowu,' may be passed over the lat
ter, however, only when the stock from
which the mare is descended are famous for
standing their work without this frailty OF
sinew aud ligament.
Bad feet, whether from contraction or from
too flat and thin sole, should be avoided
but when they have obiously arisen from
bad shoeing, the defect may be passed over.
Such are the general considerations bear
nng upon soundness of lime."-,Stock Jour-
2iat.