The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-09-08
THE BREEDING OF STOCK.

done for the purpose of arriving at
results which are sought as a posibili-
ty, although the breeding may begin
in manner that does not apparently
warrant him in proceeding with his
venture. Some breeders, among them
Bakewell and Western. were thirty
years in perfecting one breed of sheep
and swine. Every animal sold by
them put the purchaser thirty years
ahead in the line of improvement.
They simply selected the best for
breeding purposes every year, and
were compelled to inbred their ami
mails in order to fix their characters
tics. The farmer must pursue the
same course with his herds and focks,
and he must make his selections each
year by discarding every animal that
does not come up to certain stand
ard of excellence, and he must never
become discouraged, as even the most
skillfu1 breeders do not succeed in Sc
curing but few very valuable speci-
mems each year, though an improve
ment will be noticed every season.
The gain is but little, and skill is
essential, but in time the stock differs
greatly from the original. Should
extraordinary excellence be observed
in certain individuals the breeder
may abandon his plans and methods
and start on new lines of breeding, as
he learns by experience during his
progress and takes advantage of ac-
cident or discoveries, but he always
adheres to his original object of max
ing a breed that is to be adapted to
special purpose.
INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE.
Even among the breeds of live
stock some individuals will be more
valuable for certain uses than others,
and those with the highest records
may not display their best points of
excellence until selected for breeding.
This is evidenced by the wonderful
running horses of half a century ago
Lexington and Glencoe. The first
held the four-mile record for over
twenty years, while the latter was one
of the heetest in England, being i'm
ported iatt8 tRGiff f80iPBt551th 81 PB51h Neither
dams of the best horses of their day,
and their defendants are the leaders
of the turf in both countries at the
present time, there being but few
Derby winners that have not decend-
ed from Glencoe Among cattle the
same has occurred. Jupiter, Rioter,
Stoke Pogis, Coomassie, Eurotus
and other individuals founded fami-
lies of Jerseys that have made that
breed famous, yet there were hun
dreds of Jerseys in existence and the
breed had already established its
claim as ranking high for producing
butter. Any breed will lose its pres
tige if the selection of the best indi-
viduals is not strictly adhered to;
and all breeders rely more upon the
exploits of certain members of their
herds or focks than upon the whole,
for, no matter how careful the breed
er may be, or how judiciously he may
mate his animals, he will have some
that will fall below the standard OF
excellence.
THE FARMER AS A BREEDER.
If the experienced breeder of pure
bred stock is compelled to continual
ly select and breed from the sires and
dams it should be more important for
the farmer not only to improve with
pure-bred sires but to use only the
best to be obtained. But the major
ity of farmers are disposed to pur-
chase the "culls" of the breeder for
breeding purposes and are disappoint-
ed if they do not secure good results.
It is never profitable to use an infe-
rior animal for any purpose, more
especially when grading up herd or
flock, as the better the greater his in
huence. Worthless sires should rath-
er be avoided, as they entail loss of
time, labor and money. The male is
"half the herd" and every young
animal partakes of his characteristics,
their value depending upon the ex-
cellence of the herd is in exact ratio
with the influence of that parent.
Pedigree is safeguard and protec-
ton, but pedigree alone is not to be
relied upon. The form, disposition,
health and other indications must as
sist in selection, but as some sires can
give no evidence of their value until
tried, the pedigree should never be
overlooked, as it points out the sew
eral families among breeds that have
excelled and also the best individuals
among those families. Every farmer
should endeavor to be a breeder and
also to breed to standard of excel
lence by selecting the best to be OBJ
tanned of any breed.
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