STRANGE HEREDITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 942, 17 January 1911, Page 4

STRANGE HEREDITY.

CATTLE BORN WITH EARMARKS. Dr. Willmot, M.R.C.V.S., Tasmanian Government Veterinary Surgeon, who is conducting laboratory investigation at Campbell Town (Tas.,) in regard to some obscure disease of stock reports a strange freak in breeding. He says : “ The following is an authentic curious fact which is well worth making public. Mr Clark, of Quorn Hall, bought a cow some time ago, branded with swallowtail earmarkings in both ears. She was a half-bred Alderney. The cow had three calves (one each year), and each calf was born with swallowtail earmarks in both ears. The first of the three calves, a heifer, grew up, and has now a calf to a Hereford bull, and this calf has also swallowtail earmarks in both ears. This proves how an artificially acquired abnormality may be continued for at least three generations, and probably permanently—a question about the possibility of which breeders and others differ. It should be of interest in connection with the subject of dehorning cattle, as it opens up a large question of the possible heredity o} acquired abnormalities.’' Stock Inspector Dawson, of Goulburn writes: “Dr Willmot’s report of a strange freak in breeding suggests that I might state I had experience of a cow having several calves born earmarked as she was, and coincidently the mark was a ‘swallowtail’ in one ear. Another case that came under my notice was a pure-bred Durham bull, purchased many years ago from the famous Maharatta herd. He bore a pliers earmark (stud mark), and he sired a percentage of calves which were born earmarked as he was. It was a red bull, and the more remarkable occurrence was that the red calves only were marked. With regard to the subject as relating to dehorned cattle, if my memory serves me rightly, I. read that in the United States they had actually established a polled Jersey herd by scientific mating of dehorned cattle.”