The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-12-01
THOUGHTS on Breeding

cults of a seasons crossing we are
;noIined to think that the rule has
Inv variations A flock of quail
novt fall will look exactly like those
go saw last year; the rabbits in wood
ard garden are just like their parents,
huf when we try to improve our hogs
What is the result? Some good, some
Fair some poor; yet we call them
1thoro" or 'better' bred!
If like begets like why do two black
evine fail to produce black pigs?
asks Farm, Stock and Home" 1t is
because certain laws govern repro
auction, and when man attempts to
accomplish some desired end he finds
certain hereditary propensit1es crop
ming out when and where he least ex-
meets them. This is true not only In
color and markings, but in constltu-
tion. habits and tendencies.
The old SOW that leaps over rail
fence into a corn field will surely
teach her pigs to hunt up some low
mace in the fence where they can
follow in the footsteps of their agile
ancestor. The tendency to be quiet,
gentle and good sucker is trans
mitted as surely as are bad traits.
There are, however, two principal
laws which have much to do in en-
abling a breeder to accomplish his
purpose. viz: the law of similarity
and of variation. 1t is by virtue or
the first that peculiar qualities of the
parents are transmitted to their Off
spring. A Chester White is expected
to produce white pigs; Jersey Red
should show red or sandy pigs; a
Poland China may have white, black
or spotted ones, and yet when look
ing over herd of either we will see
a general family resemblance.
One breeder fancies "black and
white points," and in a few years all
his pigs will show white tail and
feet and a dash of white on the nose.
Another fancies enough spots 80 you
can see that your pigs are Poland
Chinas," and in short time his pigs
are mostly spotted One wants q.
"bg hog" the bigger the better, while
another finds medium breed" the
only one that pays. The lesson that
these variations and tastes teach can
be summed ND in a very few words:
Breed only from the best, then with
a regular supply of proper food and
comfortable quarters ones own Ideal
can be slowly approached. But it
must never be forgotten that defects
in form, color. disposition and habits
are as surely reproduced as good
qualities, and will crop out uneX-
pectedly in generations yet to come.
This is particularly true if the male
is a grade and if closely related to
the female the results are generally
still worse
There is great opportunity for help
full thought in the facts that may be
noticed from year to year For in
stance. one service produced two dis
tinct filters, one of six and one OF
five pigs Was it the result of double
action on the part of the male or
second response on the part OF the
female? While we have law through
which we can strengthen character
istics already good. we also have the
law of variation. through which we
can remedy defects by crossing
pure bred male with those points
strongly developed upon female that
is deficient in those points
if the herd is becoming so long In
body that many pigs are pulled apart
behind the shoulders. by using very
compact. broad-backed male the next
Years PIGS will have better backs ana
shorter bodies Again. change OF
climate or food will produce variation
and tb;c oooouotc FOR different results