317 



BREEDING. 



BREEDING. 



318 





individuals, and of which no very good physiological account can be 

 given. That high withers and a freely-moving shoulder-blade in a 

 horse are connected with his speed is readily perceived, and that the 

 length of the muscles of the quarter, and the manner of their insertion, 

 should affect his power is equally evident ; but it is not so apparent 

 that the manner in which the ears are placed on the head, the shape of 

 the nose or jaw, and the insertion of the tail higher or lower, has an 

 important effect on the value of the animal, independently of any arbi- 

 trary idea of beauty. A breeder however who should not attend to 

 these circumstances in the animals chosen to perpetuate the breed, 

 would find to his cost that it is more than mere taste which has deter- 

 mined these points. It is the result of observation and experience 

 that certain breeds are invariably distinguished by certain peculiarities, 

 and that these are almost as invariably connected with good qualities, 

 apparently quite independent of the parts on which these points 

 appear. 



There is an indication of the disposition of an animal in the eye, in 

 the shape of the head, and in the manner in which it is carried, which 

 seldom deceives an experienced judge. He will not risk introducing a 

 vicious or sulky disposition into his breed, which might counterbalance 

 all the good qualities the animal might possess, and introduce a greater 

 hereditary fault than any imperfection of form. 



But nothing is so deceitful as the prejudices which exist with respect 

 to peculiarities and colours. In some countries no ox or cow would be 

 thought good of its kind that was not red or brown without spots ; in 

 others, a certain portion of white is essential. In Suffolk, no cirt-horse 

 is prized which is not chestnut ; in Northamptonshire, he must be 

 black ; in Yorkshire, brown or bay. This is owing to the common 

 colour of the breed most esteemed in each country. In Belgium, 

 whence the Suffolk breed originally came, but which has degenerated 

 in its native country, a chestnut horse, with a white mane and tail, as 

 well as a red cow, are despised. Here the reason of the prejudice is 

 tile association of the colour with some defect, and those who breed for 

 profit by sale must be ruled by the taste of their customers. The 

 rational mode of proceeding is, to be well acquainted with the anatomy 

 of the kind of animal which we make the subject of our attention ; to 

 learn by experience what are the peculiar qualities of the different 

 breeds, distinguished by any particular feature, and whether these 

 qualities have any apparent connection with the peculiarity in make or 

 colour. We may then be guided by the knowledge thus acquired in 

 our choice of individuals, to perpetuate the breed, and not only pre- 

 serve the useful qualities which they already possess, but gradually 

 improve them. No greater mistake can be committed than that of 

 making what are called violent crosses, such aa coupling a very spirited 

 male with a sluggish female, an animal with large bones with one of 

 very slender make, a long-limbed animal with a compact one. By such 

 crones the first produce has often appeared much improved; but 

 nature is not to be forced, and if the breed is continued, innumerable 

 deformities and defects are certain to follow. The safe way is to choose 

 the animals as nearly alike in their general qualities as possible, taking 

 care that where there is a defect in one it exist not in the other, which 

 would infallibly perpetuate it. A defect can never be remedied by 

 means of another of an opposite kind, but, by great attention, it may 

 be diminished gradually, and at last disappear entirely. This refers 

 however to dcfeeto, not to peculiar qualities. Cows, for example, may 

 produce either milk or fat in abundance from similar food ; and a 

 species of cow, which secretes too much fat, so as to be deficient in the 

 milk necessary to rear the calf, may be improved by selecting individuals 

 which give more milk, and by crossing the breed with these ; but we 

 must be careful not to choose individuals which differ much in shape 

 from the breed to be improved. A cross between a Herefordshire cow 

 and an Alderney bull might possibly produce a good cow, but the 

 breed of this cow would probably be of inferior quality, whether for 

 fattening or for the dairy, and nothing but ill-formed cows, deficient in 

 milk, and slow-feeding oxen, are likely to result from it. Every attempt 

 to unite opposite qualities is generally attended with a bad result. If 

 a breed has too great an aptitude to fatten, so as to endanger the 

 fecundity of the mother or the health of the offspring, the only remedy 

 u> to diminish the food ; and if, on the other hand, a difficulty is found 

 in fattening cows which are of a peculiarly good breed for the dairy, 

 such as the Alderney cows and other small breeds, the loss on the old 

 cow sold half fat will have been amply repaid by the milk she has 

 given ; and the bull-calves which are not wanted to rear for bulls, if 

 they are not profitable to fatten as oxen, must be fatted off young and 

 sold for veal. But it is not a necessary consequence of an abundant 

 produce of milk, that the cow, when dry, will not fatten readily; 

 although a great propensity to fatten renders the breed less fit for the 

 dairy. The Ayrshire, which are good milkers, fatten well when dry, 

 and the oxen of that breed are as kjnd feeders as any. 



Many breeders have an idea that coupling animals which are nearly 

 allied in blood produces a weak race ; others consider it as a prejudice, 

 and among those who held the latter opinion was the famous breeder 

 Bakewell. Without deciding this point, we should recommend avoid- 

 ing too near a relationship, provided individuals equally perfect can be 

 found of the same breed more distantly related. Every individual has 

 Peculiar defect, and his descendants have a tendency to tlu's 

 If two immediate descendants are coupled, this defect will 

 !y be confirmed ; whereas, by uniting the descendants of 



different individuals, the defect of either of the parents may never 

 break out. But sooner than retrograde by coupling an inferior animal 

 with one in an improved state, we should not hesitate to risk the con- 

 sequences supposed to arise from what is called breeding in and in, 

 that is, coupling animals nearly related in blood, especially if only on 

 one side, such as the produce of the same male by different females, or 

 of a female by different sires. The qualities which distinguish animals 

 in which the muscles and bones are required to be much exercised, as 

 dogs, horses, and working oxen, are very different from those of animals 

 destined to accumulate mere tender flesh and fat for human food. In 

 the former there must be spirit, activity, and quick digestion ; in the 

 latter, indolence and proneness to sleep are advantageous. In the first, 

 the lungs must play with ease, and the muscles be strong, and not 

 encumbered with fat ; in the second, the lungs must be sound, as they 

 are essential to all the secretions, and the digestive power must be good, 

 but slow. The food must not be accelerated through the bowels by 

 exercise, but the absorbent vessels of the intestines must draw all the 

 nourishment from the digested food. The more the muscles are 

 impeded with fat, the better the animal will repay the food given him. 

 To choose an animal to breed from, whose produce shall get fat readily, 

 we must attend to this part of the constitution, and care little about 

 spirit and activity. The tendency to secrete bone, and those parts 

 which are called offal by the butchers, as being of inferior value, is a 

 defect. Good flesh and fat are the great objects. 



The manner in which the more solid parts of the body are formed, 

 and the greater consumption of food, in proportion to the increase of 

 weight, which takes place in young animals, while bones and horns are 

 growing, prove that it is much more expensive to produce bone than 

 flesh, and muscular fibre than fat. Hence it is evident that the greater 

 profit is in fattening animals that have finished their growth ; and also 

 that there is a superiority in those breeds which have small bones 

 and no horns. This is an important point to be attended to by a 

 breeder, as is also the time when the bony secretion is completed. A 

 breed of animals that will cease to grow, or have attained their full 

 size of bone at an early age, will be much more profitable to the grazier 

 than one of slower growth. It is in this respect chiefly that certain 

 breeds of sheep and cattle are so far superior to others. The principles 

 which apply to cattle are equally applicable, mutatis mutandis, to sheep. 

 In no case are strong bones or horns of much importance to the sheep 

 in its domestic state. The principal objects are wool and flesh, which 

 appear to be dependent on distinct and perhaps incompatible qualities. 

 The attempt to unite the two is perhaps the reason why the Spanish 

 breed, which has been improved when transported into Saxony, has 

 degenerated in England ; so that even its crosses are not in repute. 

 It is a matter of mere calculation, whether sheep kept for their wool 

 chiefly are more profitable than those which give an increase of meat at 

 the expense of the quality of the wool. A breeder of sheep who attends 

 only to the quality of the wool, will not have his attention taken off 

 from the main object by any deficiency in the carcase, or the disposition 

 of the animal to increase in flesh and fat. It is possible that mixed 

 breeds may be more profitable than the pure. Fine wool may not 

 repay the breeder and rearer of sheep so well as moderate wool and 

 good meat. But the principle we contend for is, that of producing the 

 most perfect animal of any one variety existing, by correcting indi- 

 vidual defects gradually, and avoiding fanciful crosses, which may 

 destroy in one generation all the advantages obtained in a great many. 

 Hence it is a matter of great importance to consider well the qualities 

 of the individuals with which you begin your improvement, and to 

 know that these qualities have existed in their progenitors, and are 

 not merely accidental. If crossing appear necessary, let it be done 

 very gradually and cautiously. No experienced breeder would ever 

 expect to improve the fleece of a sheep of the Leicester breed or the 

 carcase of the Merino by a direct cross between these two breeds. The 

 offspring would most probably lose all the good qualities for which 

 each breed is noted, and produce a mongrel breed worth little in com- 

 parison. But a cross of Merinos with South Downs, or Leicester with 

 Cotswold, might produce new and useful breeds, and these, carefully 

 selected, as has been done, have produced mixed breeds, which by great 

 attention may become very valuable. 



When it is determined what breed of animals you wish to per- 

 petuate and improve, the individuals which are to be the parents of the 

 stock cannot be too carefully selected. The more nearly they are alike 

 in form, colour and exterior appearance, the more likely they are to 

 produce a distinct race. They should neither be above nor under the 

 usual size. They should be of such an age as to have entirely ceased 

 growing, and be arrived at perfect maturity; and whatever may be 

 their good qualities, they should not be selected, if they are the 

 produce of very aged parents, at least on the female side. 



In horses and horned cattle many breeders prefer a male rather less 

 in size than the female, and pretend that the fcetus has more room to 

 develope its members in what they term a roomy female.* There may 

 be some truth hi this, but equality of size, or rather the due proportion 

 established in nature, seems most likely to produce a well-formed 

 offspring. Any considerable deviation from this is generally attended 

 with defect. Nothing is more common than for a country gentleman 

 who has a useful favourite mare, not particularly well bred, when any 



See Communications to the Board of Agriculture, by Mr. Cline, vol. iv. 



