snEicp-iu:ARixo.] AM) TIir.IK V \ K I O rs BREEDS. 



[BiiKEP-nEAnma. 



hardy race, in wliich the quality of the mutton fertile cause of horc^ditary predisposition to 

 is not at all di'torioratcd. To obtain it, how- disease is prevented. A liealtliy form and 

 ever, requires considerable perseverance, as the sound conslitntion are essential to successful 

 first is not always successful. "When {gradually j breedinjr, and for the development of the 

 carried back to the pure Cheviot ram, it greatly I points wo seek to obtain. Thus, tlie principal 



improves, when good mutton, better wool, and 

 heavier weights arc secured. Complications 

 in crossing are considered neither safe nor 

 successful. 



Breeding from close affinities, or, in other 

 words, in-and-in breeding, has been much dis- 

 cussed : and, in the estimation of many, is still 

 an unsettled question. AVhatevcr may bo its 

 advantages, it certainly has its disadvantages. 

 Sexual intercourse is forbidden by tlie law, 

 between near relatives in the human subject ; 

 and even marriage between relatives of the 

 second, degree — such as cousins — is looked 

 upon by many persons as very objectionable, 

 from the liability of entailing disease on the 

 ofliipriug, and especially disease of a mental 

 kind. This opinion is strongly supported by 

 statistical facts bearing upon the subject. 

 *' In the animal," says Professor Spooner, 

 " there is no reluctance to sexual intercourse 

 between the nearest affinities ; and the custom 

 of breeding from sheep closely related, has 

 been, for a long time, practised by breeders of 

 considerable eminence. In the human subject, 

 the objections to the practice are at once 

 granted ; but let us see whether they likewise 

 obtain with animals. In the former, marriages 

 are generally entered into, with little, if any, 

 regard to the health of the individuals con- 

 cerned ; the consequence of which is, that the 

 diseases of the parents, or, rather, their pre- 

 dispositions, are entailed on the offspring. 

 The result of this is, that most families have 

 predisposition to some particular complaint ; 

 and thus, if two members of the same family 

 have sexual intercourse, the probability is, that 

 if both parents had predisposition to a par- 

 ticular disease, in an equal degree, this will be 

 increased in their offspring in a double ratio. 

 But, on the contrary, if a man unites with a 

 woman of a different family, and a different 

 predisposition, the idiosyncracy of the offspring 

 to the diseases of either parent is likely to be 

 prevented or retarded. "With animals, how- 

 ever, the case is very different. If due atten- 

 tion be paid, a principal object will be, to breed 

 from healthy subjects, by which means one 



objection to breeding from near affinities, 

 which exists in the human subject, does not 

 obtain amongst animals; and even if, in the 

 former, mental disease is more apt to occur 

 when this practice is pursued, this, also, is an 

 objection which does not apply to animal^; 

 though it has been urged by some, that sheep 

 bred in-and-in, are more subject to diseases of 

 the brain — a conclusion, however, which 1 am 

 much disposed to doubt." From this passage, 

 then, it is evident that the effects of in-and-in 

 breeding may be productive either of good or 

 evil ; although, in neither case, may this result 

 be attributable to nearness of affinity, but 

 rather to the circumstances with which it is 

 connected. If due care is not taken in culling, 

 or making a selection of the flock, both defect 

 and disease may reasonably be expected to 

 arise; and two animals, having each a predis- 

 position to the same evil, defective, or diseased 

 tendencies, if permitted to have connection, 

 will produce an offspring similarly predisposed, 

 but in a double degree. If proper care is em- 

 ployed, however, in the selection of the flock, 

 the opposite result may be anticipated. 



In managing rams and ewes for the purposes 

 of breeding, care should be taken, tliat about 

 the close of the month of September, the ewes 

 are put upon better keep. Eape is, perhaps, 

 the best thing to give the Leicesters ; but if 

 this be not present, aftermath or clover stubble. 

 If a largo progeny is the ))rincipal aim, such 

 food, will bo found greatly conducive to the 

 effecting of this object. It is said, that of 

 keeping sheep on rape before the ewes are per- 

 mitted to receive the ram, fully thirty per 

 cent, of lambs may be obtained. Ciima.te, and 

 the quantity of spring food provided, must, of 

 course, in a great measure, regulate the time 

 when the rams are to be put to the ewes. It 

 is of the utmost importance that the lambs 

 should be dropped as early as possible, in order 

 that they may be well nursed, and have sufficient 

 time to gather strength enough to enable tliem 

 to provide for themselves before tlie winter sets 

 in. It is also advantageous to the ewes, that 

 they may arrive at good ''nndition before the 



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