Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-07-05

MADE BY
BREEDERS OF CATTLE

MISTAKES MADE eY
BREEDERS OF CATTLE.
We have been wondering what
would happen In the vegetable king
dom were farmers and horticulturists
to habitually use immature seed and
stock or, In other words, whether de-
generation would to any degree fol-
low such practice. In the animal
world 1t is at least certain that this
kind of thing cannot be done year
after year in q general way without
weakening stock. II each year in .
herd OF swine or flock of sheep the
Immature females are mated with
immature males 1t must be that after
few years the entire stock is reduced
in point of size and strength and pro-
ductfveness to the average or compos-
lite characteristics of the breeding
stock used. 1t would seem reasonable
to expect that where immature heif-
ers are bred to yearling bulls that
the size of the dairy animals upon
the farm will decrease and that their
productiveness may also be reduced
to that of the average heifer. In
swine the common plan of breeding
seems to be to use as breeding stock
the new crop of females from the
spring filters just as soon as they can
be bred, and when we remember that
these females in many instances are
not fed heterogeneous foods it is the
easier understood that the results in
the way of pigs can hardly be salts
factory. The breeding stock employed
is unfinished-not fully grown, not
properly nourished to produce bone
and muscle and constitutional vigor
Can we reasonably expect perfect re-
suits from such mating? WIZ not all
be brought to the level of the quality,
constitution and characteristics of the
stock mated? We think that this
surely will be the effect in time-that
it has been the effect already and
that the effect has not been desirable.
Why turn away the young eve or
SOW after she has bred once or twice
and before she is really mature? Her
progeny is as good as one can expect
from such an animal and will I'M
questionably improve as she natures.
Why not let her mature then and re-
tain her as a breeder just as long as
she remains healthy and fertile? We
have seen Clydesdale mare at thirty
one years of age with a fine colt at
foot and were told that she had rarely
missed a season since first bred, and
had produced fully as good colts after
she had become fully matured. We
remember also that the famous
Clydesdale stallion Prince of Wales
(673) made his greatest success as a
breeder after he had become some
what aged. 1t may be that he had
then better mares as mates, but it is
also probable at least that his OWE
breeding qualities had improved. We
have seen many instances where the {
old brood sow was away ahead of the
young sows of even better blood when
it came to a comparison of numbers
of pigs produced in litter and quail
ity of pigs produced. Such animals
should by all means be retained al
breeders just as long as possible and
receive at all times an abundance OF
heterogeneous food to maintain them
perfectly and enable them to nourish
their progeny perfectly before and
after birth. The best females should
be bred yearly and immature stock
should not preponderate in the herd
or flock, nor should immature males
be habitually used. At the same time
it is a plain error to continae using
bull when he has become slow and
decrepit. When his powers are wan
ing his progeny may lack constitu-
tional strength and II such progeny
be employed for breeding purposes their
progeny in turn may show degeneracy
Like produces like" and good individ-
lal character and constitution are abb
,olutely necessary as well as pedigree
Mere pedigree without corresponding
merit as indicated, is useless in ouI
opinion, and where poor individual
males are also imma-
ure and mated to females Of the same
;ort we can only expect further de-
in the progeny. The moral
If what we have been pointing out Ia
,lain, that it is important to fully
row animals by complete feeding
lpon an abundance of heterogeneous,
natural foods and then to breed only
uch animals as are worthy represen-
atives of their family and have ar.
lived at a fully mature age in the
,est of health and vigor. 1t would be
specially good for the swine indus
ry were this plan of breeding mou
followed hand in hand witt
he method Of feeding indicated.
ioATS IN PORTO RICO