96 CATTLE-BREEDING. 



Much experiment with many varieties of 

 animals has given a few great facts that are 

 very generally accepted; besides these, there are 

 many significant facts the force and weight of 

 which are greatly controverted. We must now 

 examine into both of these classes, and if 

 possible draw some practical conclusions from 

 them. 



It is conceded on every hand that the Bake- 

 well school of breeders began on a correct 

 principle. Given a large number of animals, 

 only a few of which are possessed of certain 

 desired qualities, we must take these few and 

 interbreed them; select again from the offspring 

 of these such as exhibit the desired qualities in 

 the highest degree, and interbreed them, and 

 so on till the whole number of produce shall 

 show a general conformity to the type sought, 

 A few generations are generally sufficient to 

 fix the type; to fix it so as to make it capable 

 of transmission to any ordinary stock of the un- 

 improved sort with which it may be crossed. 

 The question then arises, How far is such, a 

 course to be persisted in? 



We have noted already the physical decay 

 resulting from long-continued close breeding 

 in the Longhorn. It is pretty well established 

 t}iat in-and-in breeding invariably results in 

 general deterioration of the whole animal 

 nature when long continued. Just what is the 



