Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-05-10
Iire gtork,

varieties found in nature, or even
among those partially improved, have
been combined and new breeds formed,
says o. III. Butterfeld. The history of
the improvement in all breeds of stock
goes to show this truth. In few ex-
ceptional cases, like the Arab horse,
marked degree OF success has been
attained where agriculture generally
is at a low stage. But this is due to
the fact that the natural conditions
are able to supply the requisite means
OF Improvement. The merino sheep
from its surroundings as to climate and
adequate protection from an admtxture
ofimpure blood, attained to certain de-
gree of excellence on the Spanish
ranges in the production of wool, but
after hundreds of years of such hand
ling the year 1900 found them still
with light heeces, deficient in body,
and lacking constitutional vigor to the
extent that half the lambs dropped,
either died or were killed, to enable
the other half to live and grow. Gil
matte conditions largely control the
development of animals in their nat
ural state, and in pastoral countries
where the cultivated crops are not
much grown, varies but little from
that of those in the natural state, tho
survival CT the fittest," and under
such conditions the "fttest" can only
about hold their own and keep the
race from deteriorating. Nature left
to herself, makes little or no improve
ment in the animal creation. Her
ways are not adapted to such work.
Her methods of selection might do
something to secure this were not her
care so fitful and uncertain in the pro-
vision of food and shelter. Sometimes
she provides food without stint, lavish to
excess. The earth abounds in grass and
forage, and again the soil is parched,
giving little or no food, or the rigor of
the climate prevents the animal from
obtaining the subsistence that may be
stored for it. Nature is harsh and Oft
times cruel to those entirely dependent
on her. At one time plenty, and at an
other scarcity, does not conform to
natures laws in improving the animal
economy. We see then that when i'm
provement is attempted we must be-
gin to improve the surroundings. The
most rigid type of selection in breed
ing will be but little in advance Of ma
lures method, survival of the fittest,"
when they are placed in the same con-
1itions as nature alone provides. They
have been tried by the same tests. en-
durance of privation, and the same re-
suits follow. Man can not expect to
improve on nature unless he adopts
better methods. The first effort at
Improvement should be in securing
constant and available supply of
sufficient quantity and good quality of
food. The care and food that animals
receive determine very largely their
character and that of their products.
The bones, flesh and tissues of the
body, the hair, horns, or wool
are greatly modified or changed
by the kind and quality of
food consumed, and the protection the
animal receives from the climatic sur
roundings Select a breed already
improved, and note how quickly it will
retrograde when left without care and
given an insufficient amount of food.
We have heard of the corn crib" cross
in breeding parlance, and | assure you
that is the first cross to make and line
breeding" can be used without injury.
It has been noticed that the fleece of
the sheep that has been alternately
we'll fed and starved has breaks or
l. &c Oh har hot iy,ir &c
yalue. The hair of the horse fed en-
sirely on coarse fodder will be rough;
ne has no life and can not endure
abor. Tender, juicy steak does not
come from an animal fed entirely ON
Try, coarse forage, and the pig can be
made to produce fat or lean very largely
IS desired by attention to- the kind of
food given. These are facts. l would
not in any degree belittle the care and
skill needed for the proper improve
nent of stock. Without these, as we'll
"A food, no progress can be made, but
that does not decrease the necessity
Tor the latter. See what has been
lone with the merino sheep; the inn
Or we'd American merino, now with
leeces as high as forty pounds each,
coming from the old Spanish stock,
which produced feeces Of not over six
pounds of wool. In addition to very
careful selection, the breeders of
nerinos have been the very
pest caretakers' of any breeders
If improved Stock. hence their
phenomenal! success. The improved
breeds of cattle formed under the
Methods of English farmers have been
10 produced with the best of food and
attention. The rich pastures of Hol-'
and, with daily, almost hourly care,
nave made the Holland or Holstein'
COW the great producer of milk that
she is; and so on through the long list
If improved breeds of the several va
.ieties. All that has been accom-
olished has been by the aid of good
teeding and good care. When, there
.ore, we begin to improve domestic
animals or to keep those that have
,een improved, and endeavor to add to
hat improvement, or even to maintain
The standard, we find that they must
rave good care and good food