BREEDING TO TYPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 54

BREEDING TO TYPE.

Creating breeds by crossing is a favourite method, and, it may be added, an uncertain one. It is a fascinating method, too, for it looks feasible to unite the good quality of two animals violently opposed to each other in type- The desire to bring these good qualities out in a new animal is a laudable ambition, but the bad qualities are just as likely to unite as the , good ones, and it is just as reasonable to expect that the good will be repressed as i it is to suppose that the poor opes will not appear. Usually in crossing violent types a new type with a mixture of both good and bad appears, and when tins type is further crossed still another unoonceived type results. However, as a general rule it may be set down that crossing of vwlent types is pretty much of a speculation, lnere are so many combinations of characters to be made that the most unexpected thing is likely to hapen. From such violent crosses of type the most certain thing to happen is a type exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Breeding to type tends to uniform mediocrity, while violent crossing induces- variation, from which a range erf type'ie given- forselection, so that eom-e of the very-highest types -of animals •have been-createdr-through means «f violent crossings. Once a • desired type is secured it can.onLy. be maintained &y sticking as closely to that particular type as possible. Breeders of trotting horses pay little attention to type. They breed _more to performance pedigree, without much regard tor type. If the horee has a fast ancestry and is a good performer, he is counted suitable for any type of mare. -Where a breeder has a mare of good type and she comes honestly by that type through an ancestry of similar type, it is better to stick to that type than it is to speculate by crossing on another type. Slight departures from type for the purpose of strengthening weak spots is ajl very well, but violent crosses made without a special purpose, is -a dangerous speculation. There are good horses of all types, and a breeder will do well to make his selection of a sire with a due regard to his type-—CJ. B. Whnford, m • the Horseman.