WHO IS THE BREEDER?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 3

WHO IS THE BREEDER?

in , accordance _ with a notice of 'motion given at a previous, meeting - (says an exchange), Mr. Pattullo moved, at a committee meeting of the Otago. A.(and P. Society on February 25) "That the term breeder be defined as the owner of the dam at the time of birth of progeny, he being. the breeder of the progeny." This was seconded by Mr. James Boss, and carried unanimously.. This question has been before A.'and P; Associations for years, and it is amazing how' so few'! agree as •to . the correct definition of "breeder:" It- is. held that the honour can only be given to the owner of the dam at time of mating. Certainly the owner at the time of birth has no right to/ the honour of being the 'breeder of the progeny, because the dam might have,changed hands half-a-dozen times, between mating and birth of progeny. Therefore, the ono who was really responsible. for the mating gets no credit for his judgment, and a'.'man who could by no .stretch of the imagination bo considered a judge of stock, or-of knowing anything about the law of heredity, is deemed by this decision to be deserving of the title of breeder. An illustration; of a case that would surely be peculiar can be seen in the following. Supposing an;owner,of a draught mare mated the animal, with a.stallion strong in qualities in which the mare was lacking. For some reason or other he has -to sell the mare just before foaling, ,but buys her back again shortly afterwards." -He.. is not the breeder of the foal! '.The same trouble as to who should carry the honour of being the breeder has_ occurred in England and Scotland, and different rules are in'force. Mere in' Now Zealand there are also variations. The best rule is that in force under the Canterbury A. and P. Association; the definition of which runs:—" The-owner of the dam of an animal at its birth "shall'be regarded as the breeder for.the purposes of exhibition, but'when he has not been .the owner of the dam at the date of mating, such owner (being the real breeder) must, if known to" the' exhibitor or person making the entry,' have his name recorded in every case." Stocko.wners will regard the Canterbury A. and P. Association's ,rulo as being decidedly clearer and fairer;than'the definition adopted by the Otago Society. . , "