DANGER OF INTERBREEDING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 51

DANGER OF INTERBREEDING

The moral law laid down by the ancient moralists made it a crime to breed an animal to its progeny. It even forbid toi use the ewe’s milk to cook a lamb or a kid in (writes the “Sheep-Breeder”)., We cannot help but think that the endl and intention of every one of those old laws were for the good and advantage of mankind. There could be no other in-r tention, for it mattered nothing t-o the animals concerned. We must think, then, that the too close breeding of animals was opposed because it was not for the advantage of the race. And this we find to be the fact. There is a degrading effect aoparent at once, and if it is continued the race is destroyed. This we find in our own experience. W& know hew cows have been ruined by too close breeding, How sheep have deteriorated ; and in regard to the human race, science has proved over end over again that the marriage of cousins -is detrimental, so much so that vl.o practice is opposed by law in some places, and by common consent in all places. That noted breeder of sheer, Ha Ice well, in the rearing of the Leicester breed, made a glaring mistake in breeding ton close, and set back the progress of it for several years, until the weak blood was refreshed by more healthful crosses with unrelated animals. _ Those interested in sheep are apt to disregard this fact, and think, as an old shpherd once remarked, “Any old ram is good eotigh t-o get a lamb,” although it may he the father of the ewe for several generations. Tire mistake should not be made under any circumstances. Once it happened to the writer that he was consulted in; regard to degradation of a flock of sheep that were once well woolled, hearty; strong and prolific. After several years the ewes aborted, if, indeed, they ever got a lamb; and the wool shrank, and decreased in quality over one-half. The owner claimed it was the sea air, which was too cold, by which the depreciation was caused, but on hearing the circumstances he was soon convinced of the true reason. The intention was to produce a cross of two breeds by this close interbreeding, but the attempt failed £rom the start by the great mistake made. A breeder, it is alleged by a iTellknown common saying, works with! edged tools and may very easily cut his fingers, .which is strictly true.

Dairy farmers in the Wairarapa, saya the “Standard,” are benefiting considerably by the wet season, a splendid growth of pasture resulting from the continued rains. January supplies to the dairy factories have fallen off but little compared with the decrease generally experienced at this part 'of the season.