Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-02
,attle Breeding at
Experiment Station,


legislature an annual appropriation of
5000 per year was made to the Maine
AGRICULTURAL Experimental Station for
he purpose of enabling the station to
Undertake work on the problems OF M
eritance in cattle, with special refer
nee to breeding for increased milk
reduction. For number of years
he leading darymen of the State have
cen interested in this matter and de-
rous of having the Station take up
,orlk in this field. 1t is now possible
i, do this as result of the legisla-
we appropriation already mentioned,
nd because of the fact that a cooper
tive arrangements has been entered
uto between the Experiment Station
nd the College of Agriculture of the
University of Maine, whereby the col
eye here can be used i'll this expert
mental work.
Considering the Importance of the in
ustry it is surprising how little work
a thoroughgoing scientific character
as been devoted to the problems of
ailk production from the breeding
tandpoint 1t is evident that there is
/ great need for careful studies Of a
fundamental character extending over
period of years. Such studies alone
an give reliable results on which the
airyman may base his practice.
The appropriation for this work was
lade available July / of the present
ear. AS a matter of fact work on
)me IF these problems was started at
ls Station some months before this
=,
er way, and is already beginning to
ring some definite results in certain
irections, although. of course, as will
ppear later. some of the experiments
'hich we carried on in connection with
his work are of such a nature that re-
;ults can only be had after the lapse
f a number of years. The following
utline gives in brief statement of
ne work under way, and some idea of
he progress which has already been
made.
The first line of study to which at
ention is being devoted has to do with
ne relation of inbreeding to perfor-
nance in dairy cattle. 1t is a well
inown fact that in the history of all
omestic animals some of the most
1rized strains, whether from stand
loint of the show ring or productivity.
ave been very closely inbred Per-
#taps no better example of this can
e given than is found in the early his
ory Of the Shorthorn breed. The foun-
iation for the best strains of present
lay Shorthorns was laid in very
loosely inbred herd. Modern knowl-
dye regarding the nature of the hered-
airy process gives some reasons for
believing that inbreeding is practically
necessary adjunct to the highest sue
'ess in breeding for any particular
luality. whether milk production or
'how ring qualities. In order to ac-
iulre definite information in the place
Il mere opinion about this important
natter thoroughgoing study by new
Methods is being made at this Station
# the inbreeding question in the dairy
attic The biologist of the Station. in
whose charge all of this work is, has
worked out a new method of measur-
ne precisely the degree of inbreeding
Vhlcn exists in particular pedigree
This method is very simple one, and
'ught To be widely useful to all stock
reeders who are interested in the
tudy and analysis of the pedigrees or
heir animals. The method is deserib-
d in Bulletin 2l5 of the Maine Asri-
ultural Experiment Station which will
shortly be ISSUED and ready tor dis
fribuSon. This bulletin will be fol-
owed ley a second one containing ia
lies which will enable any farmer or
aackpreedef To apply the method
without any arithmetical work on his
1aft Whatever. Aside from its prac-
tlcal tai1e to the breeder in estimating
Inc worth of the pedigrees of his ami
mails, this method makes possible
marked advance in the investigation
IL the fundamental problems of in
breeding. II is in this direction that
the method is being used in connection
with the dairy work. During the past
summer thorough study has been
made OF a large number of pedigrees
or hrst random sample and, second
selected animals of the Jersey breed
win reference to the amount of in
h.teoing which they actually exhibit
IN this work it is proposed to compare
the pedlSrees of specially high produce
ing ANIMALS and winning animals in