DEVELOPMENT TYPES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 12

DEVELOPMENT TYPES

BREEDING UNCERTAINTIES. In the actual business of stockbreeding, the inconsistencies that are experienced are greater than the imagination can readily conceive or understand (states an English exchange). The common idea is that if animals be mated with knowledge and intelligence the result can be computed with reasonable assurance. In practice the measure of warrantable assumption is limited, yet the study of pedigree, in conjunction with utility achievements, is the safest guide available for the breeder of farm animals. Mr Godfrey Corbett was instructive on this point as a recent meeting at Paisley. He slated that he had in his herd of Ayrshire cattle two full sisters,, one of which gave half as much milk again as the other. This experience is probably not exceptional in respect to dairy or other breeds, although it is not so easy to determine the variances in other forms of usefulness. But the point is worthy of careful consideration, since it illustrates in the clearest way the uncertainties that dominate the efforts of farmers to standardise their results and improve their methods of pioduction. Of course, lineage is the only fundamental guide for those aiming at particular object’s in animal or plant production, but even this route to tho end in view is neither straight nor infallible. The fact .that the numerous pitfalls have been so successfully avoided or surmounted in tho past is high testimony to the skill of our great breed improvers.