Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-04-27

fact that the character ~ps~h ~ aal.
NAL possesses ART not alwsy> d~Ne'-
oped. Such characters are Gated ia
tent, while the ones thas an devclul.so
are called dominant. tnai;s, tiers ~bt'h
are latent In Que animal Ds, b. ONE
dominant In his orspfhs. rh1s the
milking qualities OF n cow ire trans
mitted more surely through Der bull
calves than through her oSughsers.
The milking characteristic h. Of ,oarse.
latent In the bull. bus n cecO;..Ss DOM
inant In hts heifer calves. as~i 10 4
greater degree than In the c;-ginai
cows better calves
IL Is the same way with other char
acters. In fact. so many latent char
acters enter in 20 affect the or
spring that n good sire cannot I@ pick
ed by his looks alone. The great
Shorthorn bull Lancaster Comet. one
OF the great early improvers II the
breed, was not particularly outStand-
ing individual himself. but ne p"ssess-
ed the ability or impresslng his latent
characters upon his offspring for many
generations. The standard bred horse
Hambletonian did not have a record.
but he sired more record horses In
the same length OF time than Dan
Patch has. This docs not mean that
the selection OF high class sires is not
important. but II shows that IL is not
the only point to be considered. These
facts show the great value OF tried
sires. An animal that has shown his
ability to sire outstanding offspring
is worth i've times as much rs young
animal that has not been tried. IL Is
a shortsighted policy TO get rid OF
male animals before they have shown
what they eau do. When n sire OF ex-
traordinary ability has been found
keep him as long as he is strong and
virile. These same points apply 90 fe-
males as well. though not SO strongly.
as the male is half the herd. while it
takes a great many females to make
up the other half.
Grading.
One OF the most important means OF
improving herd is by grading-that
is, by using the best kind OF a pure
bred sire on the females each year.
The improvement will be rapid and
marked. The offspring OF a pure bred
sire mated with ordinary females viii
be one-half pure or even more. since
the pure blood will be more prepotent.
three-Quarters pure. the next seven
eighths, and so on. Ii takes but a
very few years to develop herd that
are practically pure breds. These high
grade females when mated to pure
bred males Will produce practically as
good offspring as could be got from
pure bred females. High grade males
as they do not have the ability TO i'm
press their good qualities upon their
offspring. while the latent scrub quail
ties are bound TO crop out.
crossbreedins.
Crossbreeding-that is. the crossing
OF pure bred animals OF different
breeds-can often be used 10 advap-
tage ia producing market animals.
The desirable traits OF the two breeds
may be united and q superior type OF
market animal produced. The cham.
pion fat animals at the international
live stock show are often crossbreds
When crossbred animals are used for
breeding purposes. however. they rap
idly deteriorate and the strain soon
becomes run out.
The produce OF the crossing OF two
distinct species. such as the horse and
the ass. are called hybrids. Hybrids
as is the case with the mule. are often
very useful. Hybridization Is OF little
consequence In breeding. however, as
hybrids are unable TO reproduce them.
selves.
inbreedins and Line Breeding.
Inbreeding means the mating OF
brother and sister. sire and daughter
or son and mother. Close breeding
means the mating OF relatives n degree
further removed. Inbrceding has been
used TO great advantage In developing
the modern breeds OF domestic ami
mails. In the hands OF other thnn a
master breeder. however, inhrecding is