The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19
Selection Of Breeding Stock.

The Mark Lane Express has the fol-
lowing suggestions and remarks
1t is somewhat singular that, while
the country abounds with well.bred ami
mails of every kind-horses, cattle, sheep
and swine-there is yet a superabun-
dance of wretched breeds to be met with
i'm every direction. To certain extent,
bad land accounts for portion of this,
inducing weediness, even in animals of
good blood, and whose form, under
more favorable conditions, would be all
that could be desired; the proof being,
that when removed TO kindlier pas
lures, if done before they become stunt
ed, they rapidly fill up and become USE
full stock, healthier and harder, per-
haps, than others reared under far more
favorable conditions. Those who farm
poor land are more or less Indifferent
to the necessity of procuring good
blood, believing that the common
breeds are harder, and, as in the case
of mich cows, give greater return on
poor pastures than better bred animals
could possibly do. Bad land does not,
however, account for all the poor stock
to be met with on the contrary, con-
siderable proportion of it comes from
land of average quality, and which is
quite capable of carrying animals Of
much greater height and value than
many of those which are found on it.
The great natural law that "like be-
gets like " seems in such cases TO be en-
tirely overlooked, animals Of both sexes
continuing to be bred from stock which
are entirely unfit for breeding purposes.
A farmer doing this betrays a want of
attention and an indifference to the fur
therance of his own interests highly
reprehensible, and if his stock is extern
sive he must, in the long run, suffer Sc
verely. Using male animals of mixed
blood is most prolific source o. injury,
and, of course, actual pecuniary loss,
whether in the herd or flock Deterior-
alton may not be Immediately noticea-
BILE, but when certain point has been
reached improvement must stop; and
in the progeny of cross-bred animals
there must, and always will, be found a
number Of weakllngs not worth the
| trouble of rearing.
Whatever the class character of the
dams, the continued use of sires of q
!
family likeness, should constantly be
persisted in; the man who does so, find
ing his stock of various breeds of ami
mails yearly increasing in value, the re
ceipts correspondingly raised, and the
occupants of his pastures, stables OF
stalls wonderfully improved in appear
ance. Whether they attended to it o.
not. we find most men admitting the
influence of well-bred sire on tn,
the character and quality Of the future
offspring but, strange to say, compare
lively little stress is laid upon the influ
ence for good which is exerted by tn
dam on her young, when she herself i
of good quality and well descended
When both parents are good, progress i
rapid, and by holding over for breeder
only the young and the best animals
much time is saved, and the required
amount of perfection is reached in
very limited number of years. One
looked to, this point will ever be consid
cred one of vital Importance, and vii
on no account whatever be neglected o
overlooked.
TO any one conversant with stock il
large numbers, the influence of tn
mother is strikingly apparent in certain
members Of each class, they produce
year after year, exceeding in value tina
of every other animal of the same kino
and, when sold brings proportionatel
more money. Thus, for instance, a COY
will sometimes breed calves for a sue
cesson of years, exactly the same colon
form and general character, no matte
if the sire is changed every year; am
her progeny will again transmit to thei
offspring the same characteristics, bu
in an improved degree, if the necessar
measures have been attended to wit
this view. Families are thus founded
and men intelligent enough to profit b
improving good strain which Ia
come out in their way-it may be quit
accidental in the first instance-hav
gained for themselves name and at
quired fortunes. TO breed from female
} which have proved themselves inditfel
ent nurses, and whose progeny, howeve
handsome they themselves may be, az
ever among the culls Of the flock,
very short-sighted policy, and detrac,
; very materially from the prosperity {
those who will not take the trouble {
marking all such animals, and gettin
J rid of them on the first favorable oppo
tunity.