The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-17
Improving the Breeds.
= Philadelphia Record. ]

The Involvement OF our domestic stock
has been rapid within the last thirty years
and il IS due to a change in the methods Of
breeding during that time. Pedigree alone
was once considered sufficient TO place an
animal nigh in the list: but pedigree, while
Classifying the grade OF purity, did not
demonstrate the desired capacity for fulfill.
ing the purposes intended. Later on, sys-
TEN OF selection by marks" as well as ped
igree was made the guide, which was adj
bered to very STREET Y for quite period, when
il became manifest that individual character
and merit alone could be depended upon,
which is at present the method, though the
marks and pedigree are not discarded.
This may be noticed OH looking back over
the turf and bringing TO recollection the
changes made with the thoroughbred and
frotIing horses. When Boston and Fashion
ran their famous fOur-mile race, IN heats, the
time they made was considered invincible;
bat afterward a son of Boston GexingtOn)
leSsened the time fully ten seconds. Endur-
anee was then quality more important
than speed, the majority of the races being
run IN fOur-mile heats, and such horses as
Boston. Eclipse, Wagner. Sir Charles, Planet,
Socks and Reube were valued more for their
performances over a distance than for their
records against time. But the preference
grew in favor of speed and shorter distances,
the consequence being that we have horses
now on the turf that can travel mile in
in a four-mile heat race. Cordelia Reed
once race in which she
was compelled TO run five foUrmile
heats-twenty miles-and it did not injure
her in the least, but at the rate of speed now
attained a severe trial OF that kind would
place our best thoroughbreds on the retired
list The breeder has demonstrated his abil-
ity, however, by careful selection, to COM
pletely change the character OF long-estab-
Hshed breed.
Looking over the cattle we find the Bates
and Booth ShOrthorns the foundation upon
which that breed is established: for every
point that serves as an index to beef Produc-
ton is predominant and well indicated. BY
breeding close 10 families of extraordinary
butter production we have the jersey COWS
. capable of giving over twenty pounds OF but
ter in a single week; but such extraordinary
merit clings to certain lines only, thus prov
ing the advantage OF a strict adherence to
individual selection in preference to pedi-
gree and color marks, though some breeders
are fortunate enough TO breed cattle that
possess merit and at the same time
nix upon them a badge Of designation by
which they may easily be known by all, as,
for instance, the white face of the HerefOrds
and the broad black and white spots of the
Holsteins. This is an excellent plan, where
il can be done without sacrifice of quality.
Breeders have made the Cotswold sheep of
large frame and poSsessOrs of long cOmbing
WOOL The MerinO has not been bred Tor car
cass especially, but then there is that heavy
oily, fine wool, so soft and superior for some
purposes to all Others, and with so much
attention given To size of carcass and grades
OF wool, breeders have found time 70 grade
the quality of the flesh also. as the South
downs show, with their marbled carcaSseS, so
nicely interspersed with fat and lean, to say
nothing of their distinctive marks of dark
legs and faces
The record of performance is the best now,
and pedigree is as nothing compared To what
IS expected Of an animal in other respects
SmugglerS pedigree was not considered
valuable one, yet he surprised the whole
country with his brilliant record. Blue
Bulls pedigree is not fashionable, nor was
he noted performer, but he is renowned
for the excellence of his progeny. Again.
We are sometimes so fortunate as to breed
horses Of good pedigree and records. as with
Dictator, the sire of Jay-Eye-See; but not
until he was transported to n different sec
ton, and in his cid age. did his true value
become known. Farmers may not as n class
undertake 10 breed stock of remarkable ex-
eellence, but the pail should be ibe standard
as well as the breed, in judging cows for the
GARY. and hardness, weight of carcass and
wool the points of selection for sheep, while
the breed of hogs that fills the pork barrel
at the least expense should be the one they
should select and the method may embrace
every class OF live stock on the farm. Breed
from choice selections, of good breeds, and
rely upon individual merit as the guide.