The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19
Advice To Young Breeders.

4
Advice to Young Breeders.
The high prices occasionally realized
by breeders of fine stock for remark.
able specimen, and the fine display
often made at our annual fairs by care
full and intelligent breeders, have the
effect each year of inducing new crop
of novices 10 embark in the business
They purchase a few choice animals,
at good round prices, being fully inn
pressed with the Importance of breeding
only from the best, and with confidence
expect TO take rank ut once among the
most famous breeders of live stock
But, alas for human hopes the finely
bred animals that for generations have
been accustomed to the care and atten-
ton of master at the business, soon
show signs of the change in their con-
dition, and the enthusiastic but ignor-
ant proprietor becomes ashamed of his
purchase. Or, if they are fortunate
enough to escape evil consequences
themselves by the change of ownership,
their progeny, from lack of proper dis
elimination in coupling, fall far below
the sanguine anticipations of the owner.
The novice is disgusted He thinks he
mas been swindled--that inferior stock
has been palmed off on him land per
-haps it is true), or that this thing of fine
stock raising is all humbug. He gives
up the business, and his place is taken
by another with like experiences and
like results.
There is one lesson which, if well
learned by the public generally, would
prevent many of these disastrous fail
ures, and it is simply this: If you have
finely bred stock, you must take care of
1t if you expect to make it profitable.
Animals that have always had the best
OF care, whose progenitors for many
generations have been carefully tended
by skillful breeders and liberal feeders,
will not endure the neglect and starva-
ton 10 which our "scrub stock" have
become Injured Take the finest cow
from the herd of Sheldon, King, or
Spears, and subject her to the rough
treatment common among our Western
farmers for one year, and she would
present but the ghost of her former
self.
From various causes there is con-
slant tendency in all breeds of domestic
|
counteract this tendency by proper care,
judicious selection, and discriminate
crossings, so that there shall be i'm
provement instead of retrogression,
must be the constant aim of him who
would nope to succeed In this matter
of selection and crossing there is room
for the exercise of the most enlightened
judgment.
Those whose ambition or inclination
would lead them TO embark in this bust
ness should start right. Acquire first a
knowledge Of the general principles
which underlie the science of breeding,
and then study, critically, the history
habits, form and disposition of the
species of animals you design to breed.
Have plaza we'll defined ideal-and
then, 4" hew to the line - the very va
Inability of all our domestic animals will
be, in your skillful hands, the means of
success. Go slow, and don't expect to
reach the goal Of your ambition at the
first effort. If you have never read
"Darwin's Variations of Animals and
Plants under Domestication, buy, bor-
row or beg the book at once, and read
it. 1t will be worth years of experience
|
its incidental discussion of general prin-
ciples, aside from its speciality, is " Harris
on the Pig" The careful study of a
few such books will save you many dis
appointments, and greatly assist you in
acquiring that knowledge of the subject
without which you cannot hope to sue
coed.
1t should not be inferred that stock
, raisers and farmers generally will not
find it profitable to buy improved ami
| mails to cross upon the common stock OF
, the country; on the contrary, it is chiefly
owing to the fact that the product OF
the skillful breeder is constantly being
sent out, that the common stock of our
: land is as good as we now find it but
the aim of this article is to impress
: upon those who design to make stock
| breeding a special pursuit:
LIST. That it is time and money wasted
, to buy large lot of fine stock at fancy
prices without having any previous
/ knowledge of the business.
I'd. That the breeder should have q
5 well-dehned ideal, and labor patiently
and perseveringly to accomplish his
: object.
OF. lHit thorough knoWleuSe Vi the
: general principles of breeding is essen.
= tial to success.
7 4th. That care and attention must be
| given without stint, and that all kinds
, of stock usually do better if the eye o.
, the owner is upon them every day; ano
, 5th. That no man has ever become
eminent in any profession or business
, without patient labor and earnest appli
: tion.-Natonak Live Stock Journal
Men and Women