THE BREEDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 878, 7 February 1879, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE BREEDER.

TXtK REttlfT PRINCIPLES OF STOCK BREEDING. ( From tit* Mark Livnn Krprt'xs. > The production of milk is influenced both in quality and quantity by various circumstances, which are to a greater or less extant under the control of the stoefcmastor. To the dairyman it is clearly of vital importance to get a liberal supply suited to his- special requirements, and it cannot be less so- to the breeder of stock.. Of the conditions which influence the formation-some aria localised in the animal. . and others depend upon its habits of Me, butt both are under the control of skilful management. The milking powers of any animal are primarily influenced by the hereditary character imparted to it by its parents. Both parents exert an influence in till is respect, for though it may appear singular that the male animal, which has no milking: tendency, should in any way control bite milk-power of its offspring, still the fact is undeniable. A male animal descended from a good milking family will often favor the production of an offspring of like character even when the female is a bad milker, and it is for this reason very important that when the production of good milk is especially desired, that the parentage of the male should be carefully considered with this especial object in view. The influence of thy female is more direct and more continuous than that of the maKand ts therefore the more important. We shall, however., commit a mistake if we overtook the relative influence of the two agencies. and regard the female as the sole source of milking power. With many breeders of hrst-class stock; the capability for producing and abundant supply of good milk is regarded as very socoudary in importance to the form of the body and early maturity. The m- - ( quiry naturally arises-—is there anything of an antagonistic nature in these potnts ' of character! for it would appear dosirabl'e to graft in this milking character unless it interfered in some degree with those which are looked upon as of greater I importance. To-a certain extent it must ' bo admitted that if a strong milking tendency is conveyed to an animal it does , modify the general outline of the body anil prevents its presenting that completeness i>f form which is generally accepted as tho standard of excellence. It may, • however, bo doubted whether we liaveaecepted the true standard when we see that ifcneuesearilyinterferes wish those functions of life which sooner or later become . essential to the welt-being of the animal. J A breeding animal defective in any ef its ( essential qualities cannot be considered perfect, however closely it may approach the required form. For the attainment of excellence the external figure has not only to be maintained, but it must be ac- - com pan ied by such internal conditions of ' the body ns shall ensure a full performance »E the functions In a healthy marmor. It is well to notice how far the production of milk boars upon this result. t B is a well established fact that when tho milking powers are of an inferior character, the breeding powers are also _ weak in- a like degree. There is a natural * connection existing between them winch cannot be severed,and for this reason they become in a great degree proportionate _ one to the other, It is not the fact that the milking powers in any way regulate an animal's capabilities for breeding, but it is - perfectly true that the milking powers are directly influenced by the energy of the breeding organs. The production of milk J is fcho natural consequence of the breeding powers having been successfully exercised. Here is the primary cause;. the secretion ' of in ilk is one of the natural accompantments. That course of management which renders an animal more competent for ( breeding in a like degree makes it more , capable "of producing milk, and the eonseqnonce is that if the milking powers are * to he fully developed yon must attain your object by such a system us shall render hlu. animal's breeding powers more perft, is therefore evident that whatever * may be the natural tendency of the animal, wo'ean either encourage or discourage the yield of milk by the system of manageinenfc pursued Set that a bad milker « will be rendered a good milker, although it may often be improved'. but the converse is of frequent occurrence. Many a * aood milker has Um spotty byhd management,, and especially by injurftui,.us feeding. Irregularity in the supply f of food is a fertile source of trouble, whether that irregularity be due to- the J quantity or the quality of the food being injudicious. Asthe milk is secreted from the blood,, which receives its store* of nutriment from the food, it is clear that vt * the food does not contain the materials fl necessary for the formation of good milk, there must be a. deficiency in the character of the milk. On the other hand, xt ttefc. oily food be supplied to an animal wnwlk, as a rule the millt contains much more oily matter, and yield's more cream and butter. U i» well known that by the use of sue*wdenh fowl the quantity of milk may-be indefinitely inerensed, and if the quality of such food be inferior, the animal produces a large quantity of milk but of no nutritive character. We have m the proper Selection of food a valuable agency ov which we may influence the quality of £ »i,ilk : and if we are welt informed upon the nature of the food, we can calculate with grant nicety as to what the result will t,; n,e tendency to accumulate; fat is £ naturally opposed to the production of a | rick milk. Both need similar constituents of the blood, Mid contest for possession of _ the larger share. When the milking - powers are strong, they prevent any targe " accumulation of fat, and if an animal » more disposed to- fatten, the supply of ruilifc suffers aiMordingly. ft «s by no means uncommon to find this competition « mo nicely balanced that whilst the animal p ie in lull milk no fat is produced, bnt; she * fat tons readily and rapidly a» the milking • po.vor* decrease in activity. This «s a o valuable point ef character whtc& should «. ho encouraged, for whilst the milking e powers are active, they should U com- b Ltenttodo their work well, and as the;* season, ad*ancHS, when the animal is m> n h.nger needed for breeding purposes, she ti should be equally ready toaccnmulate fat. ; * Thus the oppoMnginttuenceSof «l U. i'atten and also, produce milk are not of e m-wsmlf antagonistic- to-each ether, bat • the energy »« '*• bw«K«tpo««» n be able to turn the. balance in favor of the i. production of milk when th* circum- J stances of life render it necessary. . « In too many cas** the breeding P****** ® haf»b«o«aa» m> eiwrvated] aadi «w»ke»«tf*si

that they fail to exercise their legitimate influence*, and in such cases the accumulation of fat talcs the precedence through life. The offspring, both before and after Hrrth,gets but little nourishment from the darn, and although it may possess a strong tendency f«r the formation of fat, it is through life destitute of any strong reproductive powers. In early maturity it may be excellent, bat in the succeeding animal it is singularity deficient. It may be a difficult line to determine exactly the limit to which the tendency to accumulate fat should be encouraged, but it may be safely stated that if an animal is to be preserved for breeding purposes we should at least preserve sufficient vital energy in the breeding powers to ensure the regular performance of these duties. These cannot be considered as fully discharged, unless the animal is capable of producing milk sufficient in quantity and good in quality to bring up its offspring. The capability which breeding animals possess for the production of milk, therefore becomes a point of character of extreme value, for if a good configuration of the body lias been secured with a superior quality of flesh, and at the same time the milking powers have not been sacrificed, yon have the beat indication of successful! breeding. The activity of the milking powers shows that the breeding powers are vigorous, and that our improvement's, in form and quality, have not fcc-jn purchased by a sacrifice of vital energy. These results can be combined, and as a matter of public interest they should hv insisted upon more generally than they have been. We should thus take the surest means of preventing much loss and trouble which the stock-master now experiences from producing an enfeebled class of stock, which, whilst possessing many valuable qualities, have little vital energy to withstand disease and discharge the duties of life.