Departmental Activities. 33 



The sexual vitality of many of our most richly bred animals 

 is often temporarily impaired, and sometimes permanently destroyed 

 in the process of fitting them for the show ring-, and keeping" them 

 presentable for the next show. It is a great pity that some of our 

 leading judges of both dairy and beef breeding classes are too prone 

 to allot premiums to the fattest animals, and fail to see the merits 

 of outstanding animals, simply because in the case of a cow the 

 animal has suckled a calf or had a long lactation period, and is not 

 in high condition — show condition — or in the case of a bull that had 

 been used very profitably in the herd and is naturally not fat. 



Show DangerSi — The dates on which the leading shows are held 

 also militate against the fullest use of sires and dams, because the 

 show animals must be fattened and fitted for the show at a time when 

 mating is to be done. Cases of- sterility which have resulted from 

 the fact that stud stock were kept in too high a condition can, 

 unfortunately, be instanced from the Schools of Agriculture. During 

 the early years when several more breeds were maintained than 

 to-day, it was neither convenient nor possible to give the proper 

 care and exercise to the several bulls, with the result that several 

 became sterile at an early age, when they should have been useful 

 for several more years. Often a bull is neglected owing to his 

 vicious nature; but this can be overcome in the case of a valuable 

 animal by exercising him in a paddock leading from his box and 

 surrounded by a good rail fence or wall. Much difficulty has also 

 been experienced in breeding show heifers after a show career. 

 One or two such heifers only bred when five years old, and others 

 remained queens (barren) all their lives. Show cows invariably 

 give birth to very diminutive and often weak calves. 



Pig-breeding Losses. — The losses incurred in pig breeding on 

 this account are also very severe. Pigs are, as a rule, very badly 

 neglected as regards exercise ; they are penned up too much, and 

 very often no adequate facilities for outdoor exercise exist, viz., 

 suitable runs, with or without grazing, to which breeding animals 

 could have access for the greater part of each day. Such provision 

 will minimize the losses from sterility to a great extent. Sows and 

 boars excessively confined invariably lose fecundity at an early age. 

 The sow begins by not showing any sex desire after the litter is 

 weaned. She puts on fat rapidly, and the greatest difiiculty is 

 experienced to get her in heat. A continuance of this state leads to 

 total sterility. The overfat boar that seldom enjoys a daily outing 

 in a suitable run, may lose all sexual inclination, and becomes 

 impotent and rheumatic at an early age. 



The Remedy. — Since show animals are generally the richest 

 bred of the respective herds, it certainly is a very important con- 

 sideration that such animals are regular breeders. 



Although there is no effective method of overcoming sterility 

 from the above causes, when once an animal has become a persistent 

 non-breeder, much could be done to relieve the situation. 



In fitting breeding animals for the show it is absolutely essential 

 that abundant exercise should go hand in hand with liberal, yet 

 judicious, feeding. More use must be made of sunshine and fresii 



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