HEREDITY IN STOCK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 5

HEREDITY IN STOCK.

Tho observed cases of inherited fecundity are very notable; and the reverse of this trait, i e. t infertility, although tending rapidly to destroy itself by stopping production, is scarcely less notable. A good example of fecundity was found in an imported shorthorn, Young Mary, who breJ to the age of 21, and produced no less than 16 heifer calves, besides several bulls. From these heifer calves sprang a numerous progeny ; and the family has widened and widened, under the impulse of tho old cow's fecund blood, till the Young Marys are perhaps tho largest family of shorthorns in America. On the other hand, some families aro so infertile that, while of fashionable blood, and ever} device of human ingenuity has been used to secure all the produce from them that was possible, they bave yet dragged along generation by generation, breeding a few calves at best, and then becoming absolutely barren ; while many of the females havo proved non-breeders from the start, and some of the bulls impotent or nearly so. These cattle have in some cases passed their infertility over into oven fecund stocks. In every animal there is tho general animal nature, and there is besides the distinct sex character. Besides primary characteristics there are secondary sex characteristics, such as the hackles and comb, and spur of the cock ; the horns of the ram in some breeds of sheep ; tho milking qualities of the cow and other females, etc. Now, it is perfectly well established that a cow which is a fine milker will transmit the tendency to her male produce, in which it will remain latent till it is handed on to his female get, when it will again appear.