serious inbreeding question

[Officially Retired]

Tell that to my friend who has the closed herd of Hereford cattle that has not had an outcross for 131 years now. Jack is right, you CAN do it forever, IF you know what you are doing. The old Irish lines were so tightly bred that the quality was actually diminished when crossed. Rather than consider the probability of inbreeding like a coefficient, my friend's cattle were tested at a university genetics laboratory and found to be 94% identical genetically, with only 6% variation. Talk about knowing what you are going to get every time! So yeah, it can be done, it has been done for centuries, and is being done now.

Wow. I remember you had mentioned this years ago.

What are the traits this man's cattle are best known for and what breeding patterns (if any) has he found to be his favorite or more consistent than the other?

[TFX]

This would require a significant article on it's own to discuss the total deterioration of the nation's scatterbred beef herd! Jim's cattle are best known for moderate frame size, easy fleshing, huge hindquarters, ultra prepotency,and....... most importantly........ the ability to be finished on grass alone. The grain feeding of cattle is another ass backwards philosophy introduced only in the last 50-60 years to compensate for the decline in genetic ability.

The depth of the inbreeding is so intense that for me to throw up a pedigree or two, or discuss how they have evolved as a line is to do a serious injustice to 5 lifetimes worth of work. In short Jim does say in his book "the fundamental cross in a line breeding program is of a half brother to a half sister". In addition to his book, he also does a very random newsletter (every couple of years or so). Several years ago he featured a piece in it about our genetics discussions.

[Officially Retired]

Fair enough & understood. I have people say, "Tell me about your bloodline," in PMs all the time ... which (as you say) could fill a book, which of course they expect me to provide in a mere PM

And I have only been doing this 1/5th-1/6th as long as Jim's family

Interesting though about 1/2-bro/sister breedings. I know a lot of people who swear by that (Bobby Holland is one of them) ... and the winningest bitch in history Gr Ch Tornado 10xW came from a half-brother/sister breeding

Thanks for responding,

Jack

PS: What is the title of Jim's book BTW?

[AmberLamps]

Fair enough & understood. I have people say, "Tell me about your bloodline," in PMs all the time ... which (as you say) could fill a book, which of course they expect me to provide in a mere PM

And I have only been doing this 1/5th-1/6th as long as Jim's family

Interesting though about 1/2-bro/sister breedings. I know a lot of people who swear by that (Bobby Holland is one of them) ... and the winningest bitch in history Gr Ch Tornado 10xW came from a half-brother/sister breeding

Thanks for responding,

Jack

PS: What is the title of Jim's book BTW?

Glad you asked that Jack, it sounds absolutely fascinating.

[TFX]

The Basis of Linebreeding, by Jim Lents. I had a copy and sold it for twice as much as I paid. They are usually only available through Jim, as they are privately published.

[Abe]

Dam anyone know how to get in touch with Jim Lents to order it from him then. I found one copy $250

[redmistkennel]

Found this on amazon This book, "The Basis for Linebreeding," is considered a reference work in livestock circles. I thought this book was rare and difficult to acquire, until I learned one can acquire this book directly from the author for $35 domestic, $45 international. His address is Jim Lents, 25398 SW Coombs Road, Indiahoma, OK 73552.

[Officially Retired]

Good research!

[Abe]

Isn't that info dated 06? Guess its worth the risk

[redmistkennel]

I believe it was october 2011