ON BREEDING DAIRY CATTLE. 



mals of different breeds, such as D.urhams and Ayrshires, on the 

 Jersey and 'Ayrshire. But these crosses are much modified by the fact 

 they are bred for precisely- the same purpose, that of the dairy. They 

 have, therefore, nothing excessive or contrary to Nature. Breeding 

 in line is considered the best for the majority of daily farmers to 

 adopt, which means neither to cross too freely nor to breed from 

 too close affinities, except in rare instances and for some specific 

 and clearly understood purpose, but to breed in ine line, that is, iroin 

 the breed or race best adapted to fulfil the requirements demanded. 

 Were this plan more general, and a system of ietti'ig >r exchange 

 of males established among the dairy farmers, as in days gone by, 

 the cost would be brought within the reach of most daily men. 

 Whether this supposition be correct or not there can be little doubt 

 that if we understood fully all the influences at work, and could esti- 

 mate fairly all the data, we might predict with confidence the charac- 

 teristics of the progeny from any given union where line breeding 

 had been followed for any considerable time. 



In all our more modern treatises on dairy cattle breeding much im- 

 portance seems to be placed on the philosophic supposition tnat 

 " similar causes bring about similar effects." However plain this may 

 appear to the '"' casuist," it always presents many difficulties to the 

 breeders of stock. It is tine confusion of these much paraded laws 

 of Nature that has led miany of our best breeders to recognise pedi- 

 gree as only, valuable in proportion as it shows an animal to be de- 

 scended, not .only from such as are purely of its own race or breed, 

 but also from such individuals in that breed as were specially noted 

 for the characteristic excellencies of that particular breed. 



The great mistake lies in endeavouring to achieve perfection in 

 their herds too rapidly, whereas all improvements should gradually 

 be effected by gentle rather than by violent approaches, fin these im- 

 provements much is of that cannot be explained away ; for instance, 

 when breeders talk about " purity of blood," they simply mean that 

 the animal is of some distinct variety that it has been bred from an 

 ancestry all of whom were marked by the same peculiarities and 

 characteristics. But when we are called upon to explain why the 

 blood of a male and female of thie same species but of different breeds 

 will or will not unite successfully in the production of their offspring 

 we are face to face with a difficult problem. The qualities of an ani- 

 mal depend upon its organisation and endowments, and the blood 

 as it appears to us is only the vehicle by which these are nourished 

 and sustained. The blood, however, varies in quality and composi- 

 tion the quality is not easily explained according to the food eaten, 

 the air breathed, and the exercise taken. If therefore, one dairy bull 

 is better than another, it is because there is a surprising amount of 

 secret and unthoughMof quality in its blood which has not yet been 

 properly demonstrated by physiologists that often proves sufficient 

 to impregnate the blood of many subsequent generations. 



Who has not observed the lethargic temperament of the Shorthorn 

 in contrast to the sprightly movements of the Ayrshire, or noted the 

 results of the greater quietness and docility syo highly valued in th<? 

 crosses of these two breeds ? The lethargic temperament is in- 

 separably connected with an aptitude to fatten. The old Teeswater 

 cattle were remarkably deep milkers, showing more the characteristic 

 of Bakewell's Longhorns. J/n that respect it does not appear that 

 good grazing points necessarily conflict with dairy excellence. As 

 improvement in -feeding qualities was gained, the production of milk 

 in most cases fell off, and although some families for years embraced 

 many excellent milkers, the majority of them have long since de- 

 teriorated in proportion to their considerable improvement as meat 

 producers. 



The earlier Durhams introduced to this country were from the 



203. 



