JERSEY CATTLE BREEDERS. 373 



INTER-BREEDmG— TO WHAT EXTENT MAY IT BE 

 FOLLOWED? 



BY DR. LEVI RITTER, OF IRVINGTON, IND. 



The United States possesses advantages of climate, soil, grasses, and grain, that 

 have enabled it, even tliis early in its history, to i)ro(luce the finest cattle in the 

 world; and we think the Jersey cow has been decidedly improved in quality, 

 beauty and value, since her importation into this country. 



The topographical and climatic conditions, and the tVed supplies of the differ- 

 ent sections of our country are so unlike, that, in a few generations from the same 

 parents, animals selected from diflferent herds will exhibit great physical and con- 

 stitutiunal contrast; so that, by crossing the best specimens selected from herds 

 bred from t«o hundred to two thousand guiles apart, we are relieved from the 

 necessity of inter-breeding, and need not rtsort to it unless it is the best way to 

 improve the animal. 



I am sorry that but two weeks notice was given me in which to prepare this 

 article; it should have been two years at least. I hope it will be assigned to a 

 committee, whose duty it shall be to collect statistics fn.m all the breeders in the 

 State, and from time to time report to this body the facts thus gathered and the 

 conclui^ions drawn therefrom. 



In tliis paper I can only submit some general reflections upon the laws of pro- 

 creation in the animal world. 



It is reasonable to ass^ume that the same general law runs tlirough all animal 

 life, and that a practice that proved injurious in one species would produce the 

 same effect in all, the intensity being increased as the highest lype of life is ap- 

 proached, and diminishing toward the lower. This general law is positively 

 denied by the ultra-advocates of inter-breeding. 



One phase of the subject can easily be disposed of; for it is undoubtedly true 

 that many breeders have found it financially i^rofitable to carry in-and-in-breeding 

 to the fullest extent. This always presents a strong inducement to the fortunate 

 owner of a flrst-class cow or bull to make a "corner" on their blood, if I may be 

 permitted to use a common expression and practice of purely speculative business. 

 This feeling is much stronger in the old world, where so much importance is at- 

 tached to family blood, and where breeders so much desire to build up a great 

 name for their particular family of cattle. 



The question before us is, does in-and-in-breeding weaken the vital forces and 

 ultimately injure the stock? 



It is proper for me to admit that my personal opinion is that inter- breeding 

 does tend to weaken the vital forces and injure the progeny. This conclusion was 

 reached years ago by studying its effect in the human family. 



Assuming a general law to run through all animal life, we are still much embar- 



