Middletown transcript., 1906-11-17
WHAT KIND OF A SIRE

Ed H0drd's Ddiryaldn: day we
hear or read that the BULLS half the herd.
This 10 true In his being half responsible
for the offspring of tile herd, but here
his strict numerical balance ends, for he
may be less than half the herd il in aatnal
prepotent merit he is inferior TO his COWS;
or he may be more than hall the herd II he
carries in him inherited, inherent prepo-
tent ability to advance his offspring to a
class higher in utility than the class Of
their dams.
We are certainly not able to tell now,
and it is not likely man will ever be able
to tell, inst what the relative influence Of
the sire and dam are on tile offspring. 1t
is sgenerally assumed that the individuality
OF the sire is NOR, potent in determining
tile character and characteristics OF the
calf than is the individuality OF the dam,
so that when We speak Of improving the
dairy herd by breeding it mp, the burden
of our expectations rest on the male.
The forces, and influences operating upon
them, in biological reproduction are es-
sentially beyond our control, as they are
largely beyond our conception, and about
as far as we can 90 in forecasting the re-
suit OF a mating is to say that alike pro-
duces like or the likeness OF an ancestor"
1t may be the like and-like theory is
correct as theory, but it is knocked out
OF fine adjustment by variations in condi-
tions influencing conception.
All OF which leads Us into the dream
land OF speculation and profits US not at
all in our every day efforts toward getting
for ourselves better cows.
The world cares very little for what a
tiger, dog, wolf, fox or skunk may
think, but it would be edifying il We
could learn the opinions some Of our best
cows have of the way their owners are
testing them.
Language was given us" said the witty
FrencIlman, ITO conceal our thoughts
The COWS not having received this gift
express their thoughts very forclbly in
their performance, both at the pail aud in
breeding. If We were able to catch inn
pressons and translate them intD words,
many good, refined, highly effeminate
dairy COW would probably soliIequize
somewhat in this vein:
tThe man who owns me is supposed to
bel dairyman BY fineness in breeding
and by the grace Of lieredity and nay own
individual ability and willingness to do
good work, am regarded as COW among
cows. have been and am to be the
mother Of COWS Now tile boss is forever
wishing for better cows. lie says that
land has become deaier, wages higher and
feed about out Of sight which latter
must be literally true, ior | Gol't see
much Of it. He has number Of other
god cows and We have it in us toimproye
upon ourselves In our daughters II given
any kind Of decent chance. We must
be consorted with equals if We are to
mnther COWS to grow into our .uperiors.
But what is he giving ns?
Over there in the stall is a clustering.
believing, under-bred male, that this
man has put al The lead Of Ills herd for
sooth, and lie is 70 sire the dairy babies
we are to mother-tliat We are to dam
and that sounds mighty much like swear
ing and don't carei
How are We good cows going to earn the
well done, good and faithful servants in
the next word If We are ptntrallzed BY
that sort of thing III this on,? No wonder
We have TO rlminate 70 nnell.
Rot Accidents
Occasionally gt,od cpw cnhes BY ac-
cident, IN the sense that We cainot ac-
count for her being good, az III tile cases
Of now and then goud dairy COW from
beef breeds; or the estrax good general
purpose COW, which, ~ lone swallow,
make her devotees think Summer has
come, sure enonRh!p But good cows in
the plursl number. cows that when prop
erly mated, 20 nearly reproduce their
merits that like produees like, il SO de-
pendably true that We accept il as settled
law of breeding COWS of this Kind do
not come by accident. Some nian has BY
iilteissii ii atis,n, by the nniiication oil the
Harmonious qualities of nature, strength
sned tendency illtt, trait. and built
mp what breeders call prepoiency
fiji siping This work Tie breeder Iias not
created AZ animal. but lie Ias sInMly and
surely Improved pi.e.
IIoM often ae haze the question asked
us Canuol slifIreiaih sufficient Jersey
quality and seeuw 1 large Iiolstein quan.