The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-07
Breeding for Marks.

We are making many serious mistakes in
breeding by adhering too rigldly to color
marks. Numerous instances have occurred
in which many valuable strains of blood
have been ruined by overlooking prime
qualities and characteristics in order to keep
close to the color line. This applies to
horses, cattle, sheep. hogs, and even poultry.
1t is we'll enough to have certain defined
shapes and types as badges of purity of de-
scent, but when these marks or points are
gained at a sacrifice of stamina, quality and
endurance it is time to halt for a consider
alton. The contest that has been waged
owe the rom or red color of the short horns
has been an injury TO that variety of cattle.
So prejudicial has been the competition in
this matter that the very object
of their improvement has been
often forgotten, and at some
fairs the judges have spent hours in oon-
sidering points of color and minutes only in
deciding questions of shape. That the shape
and general make up of the animal should
be paramount to all other considerations is
apparent to every one who wishes to breed
cattle on the farm for market and with profit,
but we are learning costly lessons in our
eagerneSs for color-marks only. The French
have kept the color of PercheroR horses uni
for n for generations, adhering to the gray,
but they have been forced to admit that this
splendid breed, good as ii is, would have
been superior had they not been so particu-
lar regarding the color. Even in America
there was for long time more or less preju-
dice among the owners of thorough
bred horses regarding color The
bay, the sOrrel and the chestnut were
all regarded with more favor than the
gray, but when the magnificent son of Lex
ingtOn-Lightning- the race courses
of the North, and cut down the previously
invincible Planet and the great Panic, two
of the best horses in the country his color
was forgotten. Efforts to get the legs of the
Southdown little darker has not helped its
constitution, and shortening the nose of the
Berkshire, and keeping close to the white
face and legs has not been of great benefit
to the breed. Among fowls, the Black Span
ish may be mentioned as positive sufferers
from the desire on the part OF their breeders
to perpetuate certain marks. The striking
peculiarly of this breed is the white face
1t has taken years to get the face entirely
white and to this day full plumaged Black
Spanish cock with a broad white face
entirely free from the traces of red is a
rarity. We have the white face, but at a
cost that shades the value of the popularity
sought for these noble fowls were quarter
of century ago among the hardest and
most profitable of any of the breeds. To-
day they are almost ignored, for they are
ill-shaped, gawky and tender as compared
with what they were. Stamina, constitution
and vigor surrendered 20 the white face, and
while they are still good layers, they are not
class ed among our hardest fowls. The
same may be said of the Polish varieties,
and the white earlObes of the Leghorns may
ultimately lead to an impairment of their
useful qualities. 1t is wise to have clearly
defined marks to all breeds, but at the same
time they should not be gained at the ex-
pense of the natural eharacterics of the ami
NAL or bird.