The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-21
Pure Breeds of Stock.
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Pure breeds are the agents by which the
farmers are enabled to accomplish purposes
not possible with common stock. They en-
able them to breed in certain directions at
will, to secure the most desirable qualities
peculiar to the breeds, and to Gull out and
discard such as may not possess particular
attributes fer any special purpose. 1t is by
accepting the advantages possessed by the
pure breeds that the most successful farmers
have placed higher value upon stock; aud
the increase of wealth by particularly in
breeding can not be correctly estimated.
Perhaps there has been no greater or more
rapid progress made in any direction than
that of breeding our cattle. 1t has been
ong-honored custom to regard any animal
as valuable that gave partial satisfaction in
the duties it was to perform, but when the
improvement of breeds permitted of CLASH
fcation of our dairy stock, in such manner
as to give breeders the opportunity of select
ing for special purposes very important
point was gained in the progress of dairy
management 1t must be considered that
there is difference in the inclinations of
those who breed stock. Some farmers care bat
little about the yield of milk, preferring 10
breed for the butcher; and such breeders are
enabled to select stock fitted for that pur-
pose only, which is an advantage not to be
despised, when it is considered that the
difference between the growth of a good ami
NAL and q poor one, in a given period of
time, is the difference between profit and
loss. The dairyman knows, too, that the
animal which readily takes on fat can not be
productive of milk, and he judiciously avoids
those pure breeds that do not find place in
the class devoted to heavy mixers. The
brt eder who fattens cattle for market resorts
TO the Shorthorns, the Herefords, and the
Polled Angus; but the dairyman knows that
the Holstein and the Ayrshire can easiest fill
his pals and give the best returns for the
feed allowed, while the butter which he sells
can be produced of the finest quality aud
largest amount from the Jersey and the
Guernsey. Even the lumberman, who is
compelled tC haul heavy loads. is aware that
for strength, activity and endurance of his
oxen the red Devon is more suitable than
any other breed. This knowledge, on the
part of those who breed stock, of selecting of
particular classes, could not exist but for
the establishment of pure breeds, and it
shows the importance of blood in preference
to the usual system of breeding without re-
gard TO any fixed purpose or peculiar charac-
Teristic.
The classification of sheep into different
breeds enables the wool-growers to select an
animal entirely different from that intended
for mutton. He can breed for fine wool, me-
dunn wool and long wool, as well as pecu-
harity of fibre and quality. Tue carcass can
be bred for size for grain of flesh, aud for
degree of abundance of offal. The breed best
suited for particular quality of pasture may
be selected. while vigor. hardness and pro-
Efficacy are merits predominant in some
breeds more than in others. Classification
makes simple that which would otherwise
cause large expenditure without certain
ty of the best results
Nor have swine and horses been overlook
ed. The hams of the Berkshire are superior
to any other, the grain of the flesh of the
Essex is fine, and the hardness of the Ches-
tiers and easily fattening qualities of the SUI
folk hogs are familiar. Our horses are sepa-
rately adapted for draft, speed and endur-
ance for certain purposes, and every animal
of each particular class possesses external
marks by which they may be easily selected
without danger of mistake.
Considering how we'll the classification has
been done and the perfection attained,
farmers are not wise in adhering to scrubs
which can not be relied upon, for no genu-
inc improvement is possible on the farm
until farmers awake 10 the importance of
the pure breeds