BREEDING. 287 



established, and will transmit them to the offspring, while 

 those in the animal of a mixed race may be merely inci- 

 dental and transient, not extending beyond that animal, 

 or perhaps lie dormant for some years, and appear in 

 future generations. For instance, one of the parents 

 belongs to a fixed red race, and the other is a white ani- 

 mal, in a mixed herd of various colors; the progeny 

 would generally be red. 



What determines the Sex ? There is some reason for 

 believing that the animal in the greatest vigor gives 

 character to the sex. Put a stout buck, in the prime 

 of life, and in fine condition, with only a few ewes, 

 not vigorous, being young or old, and in low condition, 

 and most of the offspring will be males ; but take a very 

 young or very old buck, rather poor, and put him with 

 a large number of strong, vigorous ewes, three or four 

 years old, in good condition, and the majority of the 

 lambs will be ewes. A French breeder would pro- 

 duce a majority of males or females, in herds or flocks, 

 at the pleasure of the owner, on this principle, yet it is 

 disputed. 



The Influence of Sire and Dam. Many contend that 

 the male has the greater influence on the progeny ; 

 others say that the influence is equal ; and a few con- 

 tend that the dam has the greater influence. The reason 

 that so many think that the sire has the greater influ- 

 ence is doubtless from more attention having been given 

 to the improvement of the male, as he is the more im- 

 portant animal, from his greater progeny. 



It is the opinion of many breeders that the offspring 

 more resembles the sire externally, and the dam inter- 

 nally ; that in sheep, the lamb will resemble the sire in 

 fleece, and the dam in disposition and constitution ; but 

 this diflTerence probably obtains only in a moderate de- 

 gree. 



It is generally acknowledged that the male offspring 

 more resembles the mother, and the female the father. 

 On this principle, to get good cows from a superior cow, 

 raise bulls from her and heifers from them, and the re- 

 verse. Here we may have the reason for so many fail- 

 ures in attempts to raise up fine cows from some very 



