LIVE STOCK BREEDERS. 



181 



ENVIRONMENT AND HEREDITY, TVVO GREAT FACTORS 



IN CATTLE BREEDING. 



(By Benton Gabbert, Dearborn, Mo.) 



These two great factors cover the entire field, not only in cattle, 

 but in all plant and animal life, including the human family as well. He- 

 redit\- is the transmitting of traits, both good and bad, from ancestors. 

 This is the great law of nature. In fact, outside of collected data and 

 personal knowledge, it is as self evident a fact as two and two make four, 

 for from whence or where could the offspring derive its individuality 

 if not from its prosrenitors ? And this law of heredity is retroactive, not 

 the first parents giving all, but the power of transmission, running back 

 in some instances to remote ancestors. 



Columbus 33rd. One of Mr. Gabberf s Herd Bulls. 



Take a tabulated pedigree, and ynu will see that the genealogical tree 

 branches from one trunk to two forks, to four limbs, to eight branches, 

 and on widening, if there is no line breeding, almost indefinitely, and any 

 one of these branches may crop out, and this cropping out, if very pro- 

 nounced, is called atavism. Just why atavism occurs no one knows. The 

 most probable solution to my thinking, must be some corresponding en- 

 vironment, similar to the remote ancestor's and mating where prepotent 

 blood lines lead back. 



In Robinson's "Wild Traits in Domestic Animals," we see the far 

 reaching power of heredity — the pet dog on the hearthrug turns round 

 three or four times before lying down, a trait inherent, coming down from 

 the wild dog. who turned round to break down the tall grass for his bed. 

 In cattle — the cow in pasture or on the range hides her young calf, a trait 



