208 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Out of one hundred cows with the largest butter records in the 

 Jersey breed w^hose pedigrees I have examined, I should say that 

 only ten could be classed as closely inbred. It is evident from this 

 hasty survey of the situation that in the Jersey breed, and I presume 

 the same is true in most other dairy breeds, there is much vigor and 

 excellence already attained that it is not necessary to resort to con- 

 tinued close inbreeding in order to secure great dairy animals. Be- 

 fore passing to the consideration of other phases of our general sub- 

 ject, it may be w'ell to call attention to the fact that many of the 

 bulls and cows strong in the blood of any particular family, produce 

 when mated with animals strong in the blood of some other good 

 family, animals of greater merit than when mated with animals of 

 their own family. When the produce is much superior to the parents 

 it is often said to be due to ''a happy nick." This is merely a con- 

 venient phrase for indicating our ignorance of the real causes. 



Now that we have got past the rock of inbreeding, our further sail- 

 ing on this subject should be in waters where all are agreed as to the 

 proper course. 



When a breeder purchases cows for foundation stock he will al- 

 ways demand three points, individuality, performance and pedigree. 

 Cows with tleshy udders, or small udders, or poor fore udders, or 

 small teats are to be avoided as are those also that have short and 

 heavv bull-like necks. The modiel udder reaches well forward in a 



ft/ 



graceful curve, and extends high up behind. 'Many beginners make 

 the mistake of supposing that those animals are of a superior type 

 that are dainty and delicate, and lacking in size. As a matter of 

 fact, slender, graceful animals are likely to be efficient in \igor and 

 to prove disappointing. 



The performance of an animal is one of the best gauges of her 

 value. The average man cannot afford to buy world beaters, but 

 he will do well to pay the additional price which is asked for su- 

 perior as compared with inferior performers. The record of the 

 animal to a large extent fixes the value. 



Some people ignore pedigree and others make a fetish of it. The 

 (ruth, as usual, lies between the two extremes. The rule should be 

 to buy a good animal with a good pedigree. Either one, without 

 the other, leaves something to be desired. Like does not always pro 

 duce like. Sometimes it produces a likeness to some ancestor. Therf. 

 is more probability of maintaining in the produce a certain degree 

 of excellence if the ancestors for some generations have been pos- 

 sessed of it. 



It will be generally conceded that the breeder of dairy stock who 

 expects success should subscribe for and read diligently some first 

 class journal devoted to his speciality. He will also watch for the re- 

 ports of experiments made with so much learning skill and care at 



