Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-02-04
a Purc-Brcd Sire Law For Virginia
81. C. STYLES in the Big Stone
Gap Post.)

bilp IOSJ.)
A petition is now i'm the hands of
several of the Southwest Virginia
members of the General Assembly
from the stock raisers of this section
of the State to pass law in har-
mony with the constitution and other
laws Of the State to prohibit the
charging of u service fee for any sire
except pure bred. This would apply
with equal force to horses, cattle,
sheep, hogs, etc. AZ present any one
who wishes can Obtain license to
Ncen = stallion or bul and hire his
services 10 his ncighbors nj his own
plice. The PERSON who issues the
license mry know nothing of the
breeding or individual qualities of
the animal for which the license is
issued except what the owners may
tell him and the owner niay know
little or nothing of the breeding of
the animal The idca is still prcva-
ient among our farmers that a mixed
or cross bred sire if good individ-
uai, is rs sure of transmitting his
good qualities ase n pure bred. This
mas long been proven untrue by good
stock men all over the world. The
.on%er strain of animals have been
bred along certain lines the more
firmly are their qualities fixed and
The more firmly fixed the qualities
,he more surely will they be transfit-
led TO the offspring. This is the
reason why our old breeds of animals,
such as the JERSEY, West Highland,
ana Galloway cattle are so much more
rrenotent than some Of the younger
breeds. According to the best author
tiles any cross into pure bred strain
| of animals seems to make this plant
OF iiXation Of qualities less stable so
that sire though seven-eighths pure
bred does not stand seven-eighths
chance of stamping his qualities OH
his offspring because of the disar
ranging influence of the foreign blood.
A standard of excellence is re-
CURED by law Of those who serve the
pubhc III other ways as with the
dairy man. the doctor, the lawyer,
elc;, then why not Il standard of ex-
ceiience FOR the sire that determines
the qualities Of our animals. Such
laws have long existed lin the old
word, whore nearly nil our improved
breeds Of animals originated. We
wish that Il law could be made go
stringent IS 10 prevent the breeding
together Of animals unadapted to one
another except for grading up pur-
poses In the islands of Jersey and
Grernscy where these breeds of dairy
cattle originated it has long been IN.
iaWiut 10 bring other breeds of cattle
10 the islands for any purpose other
than butchcring and they must be
DtS;h crcd within very short time
perhaps ~ hours after reaching the
iS.Hnds. AT present in Virginia. n
man can lead a lcarge beef grade
co" 10 . little jersey bull and pro-
dtcc a caf inferior TO either parent
on which some one mus eventuallv
lose money. He may do this from
lehoFahce or convenience, but lose
money, and so docs the man who buys
thH car. We ere glad to notice that
So",c CT our stock men who own pure
peer bulls have refused to allow then,
to serve jersey cows.
y law IL c the one suggested Syould
AT 'easl discourage the business Of
Keeping inferior sircs for usa of tho
pubic ~ withholding \ LEGAL bocE.
ing Tor such business. The final adop-
tion cf this law might be lcf5 to the
Doaid Of supervisors of tLo .o,eral
co1r.T.os and by them, befo, adop-
!iol' referred 10 = group cf the lead
!nf tgrMcrs fNl s.nck raiscrs of the
comfy. VIZ
Tie nasasgc &C such law could
on y result in an increase i'm the nun
Der of pure bred cattle in Inc state
ana general increase in the value
lG H tne i've stock throughout the Old