The Red Cloud chief., 1900-06-29
All ort norns Of the Fntnrn.

Short-Horn breeders, held In Kansas
castle, Indiana, contributed a paper
In which he said in part:
Now 1t Is admitted. | believe, that
ln-and-in breeding has a tendency to-
reduce the size, to refine the form gem
orally and to Increase the disposition
toward early maturity. How long this
practice can be followed without i'm
pairing the useful qualities In the AMI.
NAL IL n question not easily answered.
The Ceilings and Other early breeders
OF Short-Horns bred from very close
connections without apparent injury
to their cattle, and Blackwell, with the
Long-Horns, probably to a greater ex-
tent than any other breeder of his day
or since. AS intimatcd above, how
ever. the character of the cattle OF
that early period justified his practice
to an extent that would not be permits
she at this late day wnen Short-Horn5
have reached the highest degree OF
refinement, II seems, compatible with
q good constitution and general useful
''nS' III iu'', 4 nun HpSN VI gou u
agree with the opinion that In some
cases the limit has been exceeded. and
that there are Short Horns to-day that
show the effects OF too close breeding
In an excessive fineness OF bone. lack
Of scale and indication of delicacy
throughout the whole animal. IL Ia
evident that animals Of this character
con not be depended upon to produce a
healthy and robust progeny. IL this
Ia true. ia 1t not time to call a halt.
and as practical common-sense men.
having the best interests OF the breed
at heart. advise a return to safer meth
DDS and n more intelligent and liberal
selection OF material for use In the
herd? The most successful breeders
OF the past did not hesitate when the
occasion demanded to introduce new
blood into their herds.
Now the question we should ask our-
selves to-day IL. are we exercising q
proper degree OF independence in our
Cpeiadons. or are We allowing the
preference for this or that line or fam-
lily to influence US against our better
Subbihtht dlu COIllllcu StuSt9 III ~
Letting a sire should We not choose him
because he possesses in a superior de-
gree the qualities that we desire to
secure In the progeny, rather than DO
influenced altogether by the fact that
he Is Of a particular strain OF blood
that happens al the time to be OF tho
prevailing fashion. although he may DO
deficient In Individual qualities? In
other words, shall we select a sire for
no other reason than that his ances-
tors were famous In the hands Of u
man who had the genius to make and
keep them 30 while he lived. when.
possibly. their descendants In other
hands have not maintained the fam
lily reputation? Flo that is the sum
! IL unfortunate. l think, that too many
. breeders continue to worship at the
shrine Of their early love so long after
: the source Of inspiration has lost its
power.
The successful breeder OF the future
will. in my humble judgment, be a hrm
believer In the value OF pedigree. but
he will insist that 1t be accompanied
by unquestionable proof that the char
acteristics OF the ancestors were such
3 as to insure the perpetuation of tho
. good qualities In the offspring. He will
2 not refuse to introduce into he herd
I sires bred from close affinities, pro-
l vided they possess in an unqualified
! degree the qualities already referred
I TO. but he will resolutely reject ell that
I do not measure up to that standard,
! On the other hand. l believe that the
= breeder Of the future will not be ham
, pered by the fact that the material he
; selects Is not In line bred. but that he
will unhesitatingly make use OF mis-
cellaneously bred animals. always con
ditioned upon the fact, however, tha'
the converging strains are from Tho
herds of men known and acknowledged
to have been distinguished and reputa'
BILE as breeders In their several ways
A And In so doing he will but follow th'
precedents left him by the greatest
o breeders of the past.