The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-08-25
Breeding In.and.In.

The question as TO what extent the
breeding in-and-in of farm animals can
be carried with beneficial results is of
the highest importance, but the qucs-
ton is one so difficult to settle thai we
seem to make but little if any progress.
While il is the general belief that the
continued close breeding in.and-n of
any domestic animals results in their
deterioratiOns, It is well known fact
that all of our best breeds of farm stock
have been obtained by close breeding
in-and-in. Why is this? The answer
that is often given is that as soon as a
breed is established close breeding is
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relations are bred together; but it
should not be forgotten that, if no for
eign blood is introduced, there is The
same family blood, however distant
may be the relationship; still, il is be-
lieved by many that somehow this dis
lance of relationship overcnmns tho had
effects of close breeding.
That close breeding has bad effect
there appears abundant evidence to
prove; and on the other hand, there
appears 10 be positive evidence TO prove
that close breeding in-and-in can be
followed for many generations with
great success. Why this difference?
May it not be that the breeding of ami
mails with success is business that re-
quires higher intelligence than is usually
given IL?
Every person who has had any cypc.
rience in stock raising knows very well
that The imperiections of an animal al G
transmitted TO the offspring quite as
readily and surely as the PROJECTIONS ;
and il is also known that if the same
imperfcctions exist in both the male
and female. they will ho- iLalp to -ea;et
III an Increased degree in the offspring.
whether the parents are of The same
family or not. This being well estab.
lished principle, il will be seen at once
that if a breed of animals have some
bad quality il is as sure TO be handed
down as are the good qualities. While
II a cross is made with breed that is
free from that particular bad quality.
the chances are that the offspring may
be free from 1t. 1t will thus be made
evident that if we are to breed the same
family of animals together, it is impor-
tant that we should select those that are
perfectly healthy and free from all mi.
desirable qualities, and thus avoid the
transmission of disease or of bad quail
ties. No doubt that many of the bad
results growing out of breeding inland.
in have been caused by neglecting to
select animals that were in full pertec.
ton.
A trial that is now being made of
breeding in-and-n with the common
barnyard fowl has thus far resulted
with perfect success. The experiment
was coWmenced thirty-onc years ago.
During The first sixteen years a new
strain of blood was introduced only
three times, and then on the female
side. During the last fifteen years no
new blood has been introduced, but the
same family has been closely bred in
and-in. Great care has been taken TO
breed only from the most perfectly
developed birds. The result has been
10 get breed that are all alike in color
of flesh as we'll as of feather and of
form. To test the laying qualities, the
first OF last March seven pullets Matched
IN September were shut up together
the first seven days the seven laid forty
four eggs, and the second seven DAYS
forty-fiye. To Test the Matching quali-
ties OF the eggs, in May thirteen eggs
were set under hen, aud thirteen
chicks Matched out; twelve are now
living, one of them was killed by acct
dent. These trials prove that there is
as yet no indication of running ont.
During the last ten years the hens have
increased in size one-half pound each
This has been secured by selecting the
largest to breed from. In health the
chicks are all that can be desired; in
fact, no deaths from disease have DC
Cured for the last ten years.
Probably this success OF breeding in
and-in is AN exceptional one, and IL is
fair to presume that IL has been secured
by commencing with perfectly healthy
and fully developed birds, and by care
full selection and constant watchfulness.
This one case of success is no real proof
that breeding in-and-in Is desirable, or
that II can usually be done with success.
II only shows what is possible when all
conditions are favorable.