Acclimatization in Relation to Livestock Improvement

Abstract

THE problem of the acclimatization of breeds of livestock exported from one country to another is interesting. Certain breeds quickly adapt themselves to pertain environmental conditions far removed from those under which they were reared. But, generally speaking, the importation of domesticated breeds into countries of different climatic and soil conditions is regarded as a somewhat risky enterprise. The genetic constitution of the modern breeds has so changed during the last hundred years that many of them depend entirely upon human assistance, and have lost, to a great degree, the ability to live under natural conditions. If this happens in a country, it may be advisable to import foreign breeds of strong constitution which are better adapted than the local breeds, weakened through the continued use of false standards of selection over many generations.