Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-11-04
In Breeding and Diseases,
The Philadelphia Record.

/ Some of the epidemic diseases now
raging in different portions of the coun-
try were unknown a few decades ago. But
as the stock became firmly fixed and Sc
| parated as distinct breeds the more pre-
valent became the diseases that were pre-
yiously but little feared. In-breeding
does not cause disease, but rather enfee-
bles the animals, thus rendering them
more liable to attack and also less capa-
bic of outstanding the disease. 1t may
not be true that in-breeding has any in
! tluence in the matter, but a comparison
of the ravages of hog cholera in the herds
of well bred hogs and those that are bred
/ by the survival of the fittest" with the
mortality among hogs ranging on mast
in the woods will show difference.
| The more in-breeding is practiced the
sooner the inherent qualities and charac-
teristics Of an animal become fixed and
| permanent That in breeding is becom-
ing a regular practice may be noticed by
the claims of large percentages of the
| blood OF certain sires and dams in their
descendants. The sons and daughters
/ of noted Jersey bulls are bred together,
and so closely is the rule followed that
| the breed has been divided into the Coo.
massie, Eurotas, st. Lamberts and other
| families or strains, the result being a
/ gain in the usefulness of the breed but a
loss in yigor
the Berkshire, Essex, Sussex, and York
/ shire hogs tall English breeds) have been
closely inbred SO long that the two latter,
which are white, are fine in bone, perfect
in form and frst-class for crossing on
large coarse sOws but unfit Tor practical
2 nm
breeds the Poland China was produced,
\ its highest recommendation being that
1 it was hardy, and it became a general
/ fayorite in the west. In the endeavor to
make it an established breed, pedigree
book was made, in-breeding resorted to,
and it can now no longer claim superior
ity over the Berkshire as a shardy, all pur-
pose breed. The Chester White at one
+ time superseded all classes of swine in
the state. 1t was a coarsed boned hog,
but hardy and free from diseases. Being
improved and made finer in bone, with a
better form it Is not so well adapted for
the farmer as formerly. though still an
excellent breed.
All classes of animals except the trotter
| (Which is still a ross-bred animaD have
degenerated from this cause to certain
extent, SO far MS viSor is concerned, al
though there are exceptions among cat
tie. The running horse, possessing greater
speed is incapable Of enduring four mile
heats; while the shorthorns are best suit
ed where the pastures are rich and but
little exertion is required. These coldi-
( tions are natural now, and require that
/ the care of the animal should correspond
with the changed circumstances. But
/ the hog Is thus transformed from an ami
NAL of active, roaming disposition, and
we shorten his legs, increase the weight of
his body, give him a dished face and con
1 fine him SO as to render him entirely de-
pendent, with no good quality except to
/ store 10 fat; then, unless he is kept where
he can nave clean quarters, pure water, a
warm bed and something besides corn
as food he will not be able to fulfill the
object of his existence and should ais
ease appear he viii be more likely TO fall
victim.