Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-11-02
SEX IN BREEDING AND ITS CONTROL.

u LCSttlts III UlC oCGG/CtJtC AUTWte/.
has ably reviewed the various theories in re-
gard to the control of sex in breeding. Ee
examines each theory in detail and gives fig
ures to prove its u~nreliability. In regard to
the theory that female conception is the re-
suit OF connection in the first period of heat,
and the cases which are given in substantial
ton of it, he says: ''These facts may all
be explained by individual prepotency or
other reasons, which, in the absence OF
knowledge, we must call accidental for in
reviewing our WI experience with cows in
the pasture and in the barn, W. can see no
difference in the production of sexes, al
though it is quite certain that the animals in
the pasture nus have received the bull at
the earliest appearance OF the nstrum. This
experience seems also to be confirmed by
observation of the herds Of our neighbors."
The statements as to the proportion Of sexes
which occurs ON the average for different
species are various and widely different.
Mr.. Sturtevant is led to the conclusion on a
comparison of tables that in nature there is
q tendency towards a slight excess of males,
and that certain influences acting in on di-
rection may derange the proportion. The
theory of the relative vigor ofparents claims
much attention from him. 1t was Aristo-
tie who remarked, "Pcelhature conjunc-
tons produce imperfect offspring, females
rather than males. and these feeble in make
and short in stature. That this happens in
the human race as well as in other animals
is visible in the plny inhabitants VI COull-
tries where early marriages prevail" Other
writer's have corroborated this theory, claim
ing that vigorous animals when well nour-
ished and kept in a state of repose bear the
largest per cent. of healthy females Kate
Field, in her witty way, used to. take advan-
tage of the fact by asserting that the female
organism was the most perfect type of de-
yelopment, and therefore it was unjust to
deny woman a voice in the government of
the State. Mr.. S%turtevant seems to think
with Professor Hecker that the view of
Matthew Duncan, . that increase of weight
and length of child is Indirect dependence on
the age of the mother, has been shown to
be correct" We doubt if the view is well
established. Young mothers do not al
ways produce offspring which, are short of
stature and weak in body. We have known
more than one woman who was married be-
tore she was fairly out of her school dresses,
and who produce children Of greater stat
ure and stronger physical development than
herself. And we have seer colts out of very |
young mares grow into large, well formed
horses. Certain influences may dwarf the
progeny ofthe young mother, and other in
%tinences may increase its size and vigor. We
hold that there is no absolute law in regard
to the reproductive tendencies of couples
young or old, poorly or badly fed, or which
come together at certain stages of the pas
sion fever. You may group facts to prove
one side of the case, and then so to work
and gather statistics to give force to the 9th
er side. Mr.. Sturtevant properly suggests
that prepotency obscITes and prevents the
assigning of the true influence to any one of
the manifold causes at work in producing
sex !; and he adds that as swe have too few
recorded observations for correct conpar
lson, and consequent elimination Of those
results which are evidently from similar
We tind it difficult to generalize."
Even in cases of prepotency he issat a loss to-
ascribe the power to the man or woman.
This subject of controlling sex in breeding
Is one upon which many of us, especially
stock-raisers, have to ponder, and in care
fully reviewing it Mr.. Sturtcyant has done