Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-11-29
EarH4 1#terfsts,
The Disposition of Animals -Heredi-
tary Ugliness in Horses.

chronic jumper. The man that
breeds to such a mare is either un-
wise or dishonest-unwise if he in.
tends to keep the foals for his own
use, dishonest if he designs to sell
them. The dam, much more than
the sire, transmits mental qualities
to the offspring. A breachy or kick
ing mare is almost certain to trans
NIT bad traits to her toals, Very
often the faults of the dam will reap
pear in the foals; but often the faults
will be different. For example,
neighbor bought young horse out of
mare noted for her bad temper; she
is continually biting and kicking
other horses, making her disagree
able in harness and dangerous in pas
ture; but she is not breachy nor has
she ever been known to kick at a
human being or at a vehicle. The
young horse is not cross to other an
imals, but he is a kicker and jump.
er. No ordinary fence will stop him.
Several times he has demolished a
good part of the vehicle to which he
was hitched, and he is dangerous to
human beings. Before he was tested
and his bad qualities revealed, he
sold for 1925; his present owner
would be glad to get $50 for him. /
once had mare that did not kick or
jump, nor was she cross; she was of
a very nervous temperament, what is
often termed "high>strung," She
fretted easily, and would soon tire
herself out in mud or when attached
to an unusually heavy load; she was
easily startled. Two of her foals
have proved like her; but others
have exhibited other bad qualities.
One would run away if a rabbit
jumped out Of the hedge; another
would kick at anything that ap-
preached it from behind, and kick
until the harness or vehicle was
broken. 1t is easy to trace these
bad traits to the same super-nervous-
ness that characterized the dam. This
mare would usually "hy back" when
the hardest pull came, allowing the
load to settle in the mud; she was
too nervous to pull steadily and long;
and one Of her foals balks when put
to heavy load. l, might multiply
examples; but it will be better for
the reader to get them from his own
experience and observation, as he
easily can. Almost every farmer Can
thus bring up abundant evidence
that when the dam has bad charac
teristics the same or other bad char.
acteristics will appear in her off
spring.
l think this is sufficient to make i
bad policy to use such females fol
breeding purposes. Some of us dC
not give proper weight to the dispo
sition Of farm animals. For example
the agricultural papers frequently col
tain directions for controlling kicking
cows. The strap around the body
just in front Of the hips is good, but
am of opinion that the only prope
rule as regards COW prone to us
her legs or horns, is to fatten and xii
her as soon as possible. If it pay
to keep such cow for her milk, sh
is fancy mixer surely; and if
pays to keep her for breeding pur
poses, it is because there are fools t
buy. Such COW or a kicking, vic
ious horse,or vicious sow, is a dan
gerous animal; and we are in duty
bound to have some consideration
for the safety of our own familie
and neighbors, if not for our owl
comfort and peace of mind,
Such animals are not so profitabl
as those of good dispositions. TIL
steer of bad characteristics, or the vic
ious hog, does not fatten so we'll a
does the good~tempered, quiet stee
or hog. If the vicious animal is ur
profitable in the dairy or breedin
lot, it is scarcely less improbable i
the fattening pen. 1t should be take
into account that an animal may nc
be absolutely Improbable, yet con
parative so; it yields less profit tina
an animal that would cost us n
more, and therefore we should NJ
have it.
1t is the common opinion that til
offspring gets far less of its menti
characteristics from the sire than frOl
the dam. believe this is correct.
notable example occurs. One of I'll
most noted Percheron stations
Northern Illinois was a man.killer-
1~,llpI D,,n ,>,o,, -