CATTLE-BEEEDiNG.] CATTLE, AND THEIE VARIETIES, [cattle-bkeedino. 



animals wiiich have a great resemblance to 

 each other, though the first geueratiou may 

 not satisfy the expectations of the experimen- 

 talist, yet a tendency will be given to the 

 breed to progress in the proper direction; and 

 by pursuing a careful system of selection, lead- 

 ing to the desired tendency, favourable results 

 may be expected within the compass of a few- 

 generations. 



The existing breeds of Great Britain present 

 us with sufficient variety to enable us to pro- 

 duce any qualities required; whilst there are, 

 comparatively speaking, very few obstacles in 

 the way of making a selection. Skill, how- 

 ever, is necessary to preserve one variety of 

 animals at the top of the tree, especially when 

 the many excellent sorts to breed from are 

 now so numerous. The original improvers 

 had, perhaps, less difficulty than those of a more 

 recent day in maintaining their position. It 

 is true they had to work without rules or ex- 

 perience; but, like Adam and Eve, when they 

 were driven from Paradise, they had the world 

 before them, and they had fewer competitors. 

 The race they improved was such, that every 

 step they took was palpable and definite. 

 There were fewer combinations of blood neces- 

 sary, and, consequently, less risk of failure. 

 The chief eff'ort now, however, is directed to 

 overcome a defect; and this is to be done by 

 selecting a bull that is perfect in that part 

 that is imperfect in the cow. On the first oft- 

 spring of these there may be little or no visible 

 improvement made; but if the same plan be 

 continued, an impression will, by-and-by, be 

 made, and the herd gradually assume a higher 

 state of perfection. There will, however, still 

 be variations. All the herd will not be alike; 

 nor can this be expected ; for even the fancy, 

 or imagination — if we may be allowed the ex- 

 pression — of cows has an effect upon the colour 

 and conformation of the calves they produce. 

 One trial after another, however, must be 

 made; and, although the process may be long, 

 still, by paying great attention to the animals 

 selected to breed from — by tveeding them, as it 

 is called — ultimate success may be expected as 

 a certain retiult. Here, however, a question, 

 ■which has frcqiiently been agitated, forces 

 itself upon the mind ; and which is — " IIovv tar 

 is this objfct to be accomplished by adopting 

 a male, or making a change ic this feumle 

 654 



animals?" Mr. IMilburn says, the "universal 

 consent of all classes of breeders is given 

 to the value of the male: in selecting a stal- 

 lion, the greatest care is tal^en ; whilst there 

 is little or no attention paid to the qualities of 

 the mare that is sent to him. The flock- 

 master will give from twenty to fifty pounds 

 for the use of a ram, who would grudge to 

 give five for a ewe : but it is, it must be con- 

 fessed, somewhat difterent in cattle. The 

 dairyman is very careful in selecting his cows. 

 They are watched, as heifers, for the develop- 

 ment of their good qualities, and are preserved, 

 either for their succession to a maternal race of 

 milkers, or because they are promising in them- 

 selves : but the bull to which they are sent is 

 too. often a matter of convenience rather than 

 selection. They know he is a bull ; and that 

 is enough. The too-usual mode is, to try the 

 heifer by her first calf. If she promises well 

 as a milker, she is kept for a cow ; if not, she 

 is consigned as a 'drape' to the grazier, for 

 the butcher. Seasoning from analogy, the 

 mother would be naturally considered as more 

 influencing the animal than the sire. The 

 influence of the mother is long and continuous. 

 Her blood flows through its veins ; it partakes 

 of her habits and sympathies; but still the 

 vital force of the male animal is pre-eminent. 

 Much as the mother may influence the consti- 

 tution, the sire possesses a far greater sway 

 over the conformation, the qualities, and the 

 appearance. If, therefore, the object of the 

 breeder is to perpetuate and impress the good 

 qualities, and to remove the defects of his 

 breed, he will be careful in the selection of 

 both the sire and the dam of his breeding 

 animals. A single failure — a single year's 

 neglect — may stamp qualities on his race which 

 it may take years to eradicate ; for even to 

 keep a breeding-stock in a high state of excel- 

 lence, is by no means so easy a task as may be 

 ima"-ined.'' In connection with this part of 

 our subject, the question of breeding in-and-in 

 has also been much agitated, some taking one 

 side, and some taking anotiier. The celebrated 

 Bakewell bred entirely from his own stock; 

 but it is affirmed, by those who opposed his 

 system, that his stock became comparatively 

 diminutive and feeble, and that his plan was a 

 failure. He, however, only put in practice 

 one of the first axioms of breeding — namely, 



