STANDARD FOR HERDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21158, 6 July 1940, Page 19 (Supplement)

STANDARD FOR HERDS

PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING Years ago the tradition bequeathed by one generation to another was sufficient to command success in live stock breeding, but discoveries as the result of scientific research have made the breeder dependent to a great extent on informaiton that cannot be acquired on the farm. Progress in the knowledge of the principles of breeding, which is the substance of the theory of genetics, has been such that today no breeder can afford to neglect developments in this science, because progress in the art ui breeding seems to be possible only through the disclosure of relevant knowledge by means of scientific investigation. Genetics are, as we know, the principles governing the creation or mode of production of anything, but live stock breeding is much more than an adventure in genetics. The breeder of pedigree stock is really a director of a very intricate business and he must be able to construct his own policy of breeding if he is to become what is known as a constructive breeder. Furthermore, he must also check the costs of production against the income that he is likely to receive from his herd. Every method or system has to be considered in relation to the prevailing conditions of soil, climate or markets and the only real test of the value of a policy in breeding is that it brings a profit to the breeder in the circumstances under which it is pursued. Defining of Standard Every enlightened breeder aims at producing a definite standard of excellence, but before there can be any intelligent attempt at improvement the standard must be defined and must be both economical and biologically sound. Unfortunately the standards are set far too often by the buyer instead of the breeder and many buyers know little or nothing abem breeding. These two sets of interests have to be considered when drawing up the standard of the ideal In considering live stock improvement it is necessary to look beyond the herd. The live stock of the country must be considered. One of the most important things in stock breeding is to raise the general level of excellence of the commercial stock of the country and the first step towards this is the breeding of pedigree stock to approved systems of breeding. The next step is to encourage the use of the best pedigree sires in commercial herds. Pedigree breeding is the solid foundation upon which all schemes of improvement must be built. Expert management can do much, but it cannot transform the heretitary defective into highly productive stock. Two pressing needs in live stock breeding are an improvement of quality and lowered costs of production. These needs can be met to some extent by breeding for increased productiveness in order to lower costs of production and by breeding fci still higher quality in order to increase the returns from the herd.