22 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING 



doubles or triplets is increased. In a flock of ewes the 

 largest number of twins is " got " the first few days the ram 

 is let out. The first-born of most farm animals are believed 

 to run slightly more to the female than to the male side. 



Barrenness or uncertainty may be induced by the 

 following causes : 1st. Over-feeding in the case of either 

 sex, thus loading the reproductive organs with fat. The 

 remedy in the case of over-fat animals is judicious starving, 

 and plenty of exercise or work in the case of cattle and 

 horses. Some foods induce uncertainty in breeding more 

 readily than others. Sugar, molasses, and linseed are 

 amongst the worst ; but these are, nevertheless, often used 

 to prepare beasts for show or sale, because they produce a 

 smooth and glossy coat of hair, as well as lay on fat. These 

 foods would not do damage if given in moderation with hay 

 or straw ; it is when supplied in addition to a full feed of 

 other concentrated food that they do injury. Foods for 

 breeders should be particularly rich in phosphates, and 

 should have more albuminoids to fat-formers than in the 

 case of fattening animals ; such food ingredients are beans, 

 peas, lentils, and gram. Very fat animals do not come often 

 in season, and, consequently, cattle settle better and feed 

 faster as they become what the butchers designate " fat-ripe." 



2nd. Too low condition, especially if associated with ex- 

 posure to cold and wet, as in the case of cattle wintered in 

 the open air on poor food, or of heavy milking cows " sucked 

 down " by a large calf or perhaps by two calves. 



3rd. Constitutional weakness from in-and-in breeding. 



4th. Being a free-martin or dumb-martin, that is, a 

 heifer born one of a pair of twins, the other being a bull. 

 In this case the external as well as the internal organs of 

 generation are imperfectly formed and contracted, and 

 there is usually also more or less of a masculine appearance 

 noticeable. Robert Ceiling's famous "white heifer that 

 travelled" was a free-martin by "Favourite" (252), her full 

 brother being " North Star " (459). Highland cattle are said, 

 at times, to produce free-martins that breed. 



Horses do not conform to this rule, but twins from a 

 mare are very rarely seen because when they do occur they 

 are usually, although not invariably, prematurely born, or die 

 if they come to full time. The female twin sheep is fertile. 



