306 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1919. 



FAMILY 9. 



This family has been referred to on numerous occasions as being the 

 probable source from which unsoundness has been transmitted to sound 

 lines through the dams. One hundred and ninety-five descendants have 

 been examined, and 45, or 23 per cent., found to be unsound. Most of 

 this unsoundness is found in the branch with 9.3 a^ the head. 



The table for the whole family is as follows: — 



Although IS per cent, of the progeny of 9.1 is recorded as unsound, it 

 must be remembered that only a few representatives, viz., 33, have been 

 examined — ten were grandsons, and of these two were unsound; 22 

 were great grandsons, and three were unsound. A large number were 

 mature at time of examination, so we may consider the branch a sound 

 one, or, at any rate, one in which the factor for unsoundness is diminish- 

 ing, and only appearing when mated with unsound females. In support 

 of this it may be pointed out that the dam of 9.1215 was by 3.1. Seventy- 

 five per cent, of the sons of 3.1 showed unsoundness; 40 per cent, of 

 his grandsons were unsound, and 31 per cent, and 50 per cent, of his 

 great grandsons and great-great grandsons respectively. Further, the 

 dam of 9.127 was by 4.13, a member of an unsound branch, which has 

 been noted on previous occasions as the possible source of unsoundness. 

 Two sons of 9.11 were examined; they were both sound. This horse 

 was referred to in the first part of this article as being responsible for 

 the introduction of soundness into the very unsound family 16. 



Through the branch with 9.3 at the head there is a large amount of 

 unsoundness. This stallion was not examined, but 71 per cent, of his 

 sons was affected Avith sid('l)oiie. and many mares by him ai'e known to 

 be afi'ected. 



It is interesting to follow the family of one of his sons, viz., 9.312, 

 himself not examined. Fourteen sons of this horse were examined, and 

 only one was found unsound. Most of the sound animals were of mature 

 age at examination; therefore it would appear that here we have a sound 

 branch of an unsound line to consider, and that the soundness has been 

 introduced into it. This can be shown to have occurred through 9.312, 

 which was from a mare bv 7.4, a horse alreadv referred to as being' 



