PART V. LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY 



Controlling Sex of Animals. 



/ have read from what I supposed to be good authority that if a 

 female gives birth to a male and becomes pregnant at the next "monthly 

 period" it will be a female, and that this holds good for every odd number. 

 The even periods will give a male. If the birth is female, the opposite 

 holds good, the odd periods then giving a male, while the even periods- 

 will give a female. 



Many theories have been advanced, and while many have never been 

 disproved, none have ever been recognized as absolutely reliable by 

 authorities. M. W. Harper, in his "Breeding of Horses," makes the 

 following points : "Data gathered from various sources seem to indicate 

 that the two sexes are produced in practically equal numbers. The relative 

 number of males per 100 females is given for horses as 99, for cattle 

 94, for sheep 102, for swine 104, and for poultry 95. In Europe a study 

 involving 60,000,000 human births showed an average of 106 males to 

 every 100 females. A few of the more common external theories that 

 have gained popular credence, ! but which, so far as present knowledge 

 goes, contain no basis in truth will be reviewed. It is stated that the 

 sex is determined by the degree of maturity of the egg cell at 

 the time of service. If the service takes place early in the period 

 of estrum or heat, the offspring will be a male ; if later, a female will 

 result. This theory is disproved by the results of ordinary farm practice. 

 When males and females run together, the service always takes place 

 during the early stages of the period, which should make the offspring 

 practically all of one sex, yet the proportion of males and females is 

 approximately equal. It is said that the ova are alternately male and 

 female, and that the sex of the offspring can be controlled by the choice 

 of the proper estrum or service. Thus, if the last young was a male, 

 then mating at the first estrum as well as third, fifth and so on, would 

 produce females, whereas the second, fourth, sixth, and so on periods 

 would result in males. This theory is disproved by the results of farm 

 practice, especially in horse breeding, where males follow males and 

 females follow females without the alternating period of estrum, it being 

 the custom to breed mares on the ninth day after foaling." 



Breeding Young Mares. 



What will the effect be if I breed my young mares at two years old? 

 Will it affect growth or disposition? 



Some breeders contend that early breeding of mares has a tendency 

 to increase the fertility and advance the development of the mare. Also 



