CONSTRUCTIVE BREEDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 14

CONSTRUCTIVE BREEDING.

SELECTIVE METHODS. Constructive dairy cattle breeding may be stated as tlio application of the selective methods in mating, and there are two systems which may lead to satisfactory results. Ono of these depends for success upon selecting, each time a change of sire is necessary, a bull of outstanding merit and disregards any relationship which may exist between it and the previous sire. In this case selection is based entirely upon the individual merit of the sire and having due regard to the qualification of its immediate ancestors. The other method is to lino breed by selected sons of a noted family, or of a cow which has exhibited exceptional qualities. The object sought in the latter case is to endeavour to concentrate the good qualities of somo family or female by working within the family and so lessen the tendency to a greater variation by the influences which are liable to intervene when animals possessing varying family traits a;o mated.

One of (lie disadvantages of lino breeding results very often from (lie long period which may pass before a hull from the desired cow is obtained. Many years were spent by the Warenda breeder, Mr. T. Meslev, boforo be bred Snap of Warenda, reports the Leader (Melbourne). Tho pedigree of this bull shows that the methods employed were directed to an inheritance of sex-linked characters. Mr. JVlesley is now mating this bull for a special purpose with the Warenda females on his maternal side.

Already Snap of Warenda has sired two junior two-year-olds yielding over 4001b. butter-fat, and a junior thrce-vear-old giving over 501b. milk daily. These results arc very encouraging.