IMPOTENCE. The hreedingof animals has, in many eases, been carried to such a high degree of 'fineness, and close interbreeding is so much practiced, that impotence is not now an unusual occurrence among the higher caste of the finer breeds. In many cases, however, this is not so much the result of degeneration as from precocity in accumulating fat, and-is espec ially noticed in females, and then again from being unduly forced with feed while yet young, The feeder's profit lies in fattening animals as young as possible. It isnot unusual to see Shorthorns made fat and ripe fdr beef at from eighteen months of age to that of two years, and, at three vreln..c. 4.1e14. +11. n •1,n1.
ears LAVAL cattle should begin to be use ful as breeders, steers and heif• ers, are found in our markets fully matured as heavy Weights in beef. It is true they are occasionally fattened to im mense between three and six years of age, but herein lies no profit to the feeder. Another prolific cause of im potency would seem to be the mania, that raged some years since, to increase the size of animals by selection, coupled with high feeding. Here, two
NEW. causes worked against fertility.
They were kept constantly fat; and this, • in connection with the selection of immense animals, as breeders, led to deficient vigor; so it was not unusual to find a bull at five or six years old—just when he should be in his prime—past value as a stock getter. The feed ing of animals in such a way as to develop excel lence in the best degree, does not mean fatten ing. They should have food sufficient, and of variety sufficient, to give full vigor without unduly loading with fat. It is true high feed ing and warmth will produce wouderful animals to look at. So will high cultivation, watering, and hot-house forcing do the same with plants, but they are deficient in constitution, and unpro ductive in seed. The best breeders have found out this fact, long known to gardeners and hence of late years, while breedifig animals have been liberally fed, they have not been denied due exercise. And the causes of impotency having been removed, the disability has disttp peared. .