The horse and other live stock . f time, they will dwindle and grow feeble. So far as the effect on the constitution is concerned,both positions may be, to a certain extent, true. But it is, perhaps, difficult^-__ always to decide^- with certaintywhen an animalis not only freefrom disease, butfrom all tendencyor predispositiontowards it. Abrother or sistermay be appar-ently healthy—may be actuallyso—but may still possess a peculiarity ofindividual conformation which, under cer-tain circumstances, will manifest itself. If these circum-stances do not chance to occur, they may live until old age,
The horse and other live stock . f time, they will dwindle and grow feeble. So far as the effect on the constitution is concerned,both positions may be, to a certain extent, true. But it is, perhaps, difficult^-__ always to decide^- with certaintywhen an animalis not only freefrom disease, butfrom all tendencyor predispositiontowards it. Abrother or sistermay be appar-ently healthy—may be actuallyso—but may still possess a peculiarity ofindividual conformation which, under cer-tain circumstances, will manifest itself. If these circum-stances do not chance to occur, they may live until old age,apparently possessing a robust constitution. If tried together,their offspring—by a rule already laid down—will possess thisindividual tendency in a double degree. If the ram be inter-bred with sisters, half-sisters, daughters, granddaughters,etc., for several generations, the predisposition toward aparticular disease—in the first place slight, now strong, andconstantly growing stronger—will pervade, and become radi-. THE SCOTCH SHEEP-DOG,OE COLLEY. BREEDING MERINOS. 101 callj incorporated into, the constitution of the whole first time the requisite exciting causes are brought tobear, the disease breaks out, and, under such circumstances,with peculiar severity and malignancy. If it be of a fatalcharacter, the flock is rapidly swept away; if not, it becomeschronic, or periodical at frequently recurring intervals. Thesame remarks apply, in part, to those defects of the outwardform which do not at first, from their slightness, attract thenotice of the ordinary breeder. They are rapidly increaseduntil, almost before thought of by the owner, they destroy thevalue of the sheep. That such are the common effects ofin-and-in breeding, with such skill as it is commonly con-ducted, all know who have given attention to the subject;and for these reasons the system is regarded with decideddisapprobation and repugnance by nine out of ten of the bestpractical farmers. The
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectveterin, bookyear1866
