The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-02-05
THOROUGHBRED COWS.
There IL Something Wore Than Pcdigre
In FLOODED stock.

There Ii Something Wore Than Pedigree
In FLOODED stock.
We have sometimes been asked by
people in the newer sections of country
if thoroughbred cattle are good for
any thing 1t is q question which is SO
absurd that those who are acquainted
with the difference between the thor
oughbred and scrub, are apt to think
that there are not many in the country
who would PROFOUND such an inquiry.
But New England writer, writing
principally from his experience in New
England agriculture. says that the
question, Are thorouy hbreds re-
quired?" is often asked by dairymen,
and by farmers who are anxious to OBJ
tain as large percentage Of profit from
their live stock as can be secured. 1t is
a question in which every man who
keeps cattle of any description is inter-
ested. and which he certainly ought to
consider. There is great deal Of pref
udice in many places against thorough
bred stock, but it is almost wholly
founded upon a misrepresentation. The
idea that some farmers have that the
blooded stock is superior only in the
possession of pedigree is erroneous.
Thoroughbred stock is va liable in and
IF itself, while the pedigree is useful
5nly as certificate of careful breeding.
The thoroughbred has inherited many
good qualities from his progenitors.
Good animals were chosen at first, and
for many generations no poor ones have
been permitted to come into the family.
The good points are strengthened and
intensified in each generation, and in
time they become firmly fixed. They
are then transmitted with great deal
of certainty. 1t is true that there are a
few exceptions. There are exceptions
to every rule There have been some
excel in their milking qualities, which
were very poor mixers. These cows
never should have been used for breed
ing purposes. They ought to have been
fattened just as soon as possible after
the discovery was made that they were
not good mixers. Many breeders fol-
low this course.
But some men insist that the thorough
bred is thoroughbred, and that though
an occasional individual may be poor,
yet the defective one may transmit the
good qualities of its progenitors instead
of its own deficiencies. This is not a
safe course to pursue. and the fact that
it is followed, to some extent has
brought blooded stock into discredit
with many farmers who would have
been glad to obtain it If it had been
properly bred. In a massive stone tower
it is not enough that the great ma jority
of the granite blocks are large and per-
feet. Every one must be right or the
safety of the whole structure is endan-
gcrcd. One poor block may ruin the
whole. So with blooded stock. The
glory of this stock is that it will breed
true If man has native cow, he may
obtain good calves from her or he may
secure poor ones. The calf from a good
native COW may inherit the good quail
ties of the dam, but is fully as likely to
possess the evil ones. But in the case of
properly managed thoroughbreds there
is but very little risk. The calf of a
good blooded cow is almost sure to be
good, and to have the good qualities of
the parents SO strongly impressed that
it can transmit them with a great de-
gree of certainty. There can be no pos
sible doubt that for breeding purposes
thoroughbreds are greatly superior to
either nativesor grades. Western Rural.