The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-04
From the London Economist.
Milking Qualities Of Cattle.

is very deficient in this respect. The Herefords
are VIGOROUSLY bad mixers, and in some herds of
highly bred short-horns many of the calves scarce
y produce milk enough 10 rear their own calves.
This is quite unnecessary; for II is certain that the
two qualities of feeding and milking may be COM
oned in one animal Perhaps it is because dairy
husbandry is not fashionable branch of farming
either among farmers landed proprletors, that
find apparently neglected at agricultural shows
But il must also be recoected that there is such
ready test of the value OF a COW as mixer, as
there is OF the shape character aud condition OF an
animal. Still there is point which deserves the
attention of breeders. Many instances have come
under observation of how completely hereditary
are the milking qualities of cattle. Amongst others,
we have a COW, the grand-dam of which was d large
Guernsey cow-a sort famed for the quality as well
quantity of mik--which produces milk little
inferior in quality to that of the original Guernsey
stock heifer OF this cows will calve next spring.
and we fully anticipate that she will give the rich
milk of the Guernsey stock, though in form and
appearance she is completely the short-horn. This
point is subject of letter in the Mark Lane Express
of last Monday, from which we take the following
extracts. The writer says:
every person who ever wrote on cattle cassed
the Hereford breed as inferior to the shorthorns
regards the production Of milk. Most writers, on
the other hand, allow them to be better for feeding
Now the fact of Hereford cows being generally
bad mixers, while there indirdual cases in every
herd of wel-bred cows being erceilent mixers and
good breeders plainly proves that there is msdirect
ed management somewhere; and, feeling strongly
that this is the case, am anxious to show where
the fault is"
And he then quoted this passage from Mr..
Keary's prize essay the management of cattle,
to show that good feeders are not necessarily bad
mixers:
"The difficulty of combining the fattening and
milking qualities in the same animal is generally
felt and acknowledged; but is il law of nature that
this combination cannot take place! The princi-
Piles of physiology forbid us, think to affirm that
such is the case; and the fact of COW producing
large quantity Of butter is proof that her food is
readily converted into fat; besides which, it is mat
ter of frequent experience for deep milking cows,
when from age other causes they are dried, to
grow rapidly into fine carcasses of beef BY study
ing more closely the habits of animals, and paying
due attention to those qualities in the selection of
the males, cannot help thinking that the valuable
combination of milking and feeding properties may
be attained"
Lord Portnan has proved this in his herd of De-
Won cows, which having long been carefully managed
with view to the combination Of the two qualities,
has attained it. His lordship's rule is to
calves the offspring of COW which has proved but
an indifferent mixer or bad feeder; nor to buy
bull of which the pedigree cannot be traced through
milking mother. This last is often point of some
difficulty. The writer then gives the following
corroboratve case, as regards Herefords:
"Many years ago neighbor purchased Here
ford bull out of superior stock; the helfer produce
of this bull proved to be good mixers, and the
steers very prime. In due time he sold that bull
and bought another, and apparently SUPERIOR the
heifer produce of the last bull were abominable
mixers, and the steers not so good as the other
bulls by 20 or f3 head. ! will give one more
instance. My father had COW of the Hereford
breed, of excellent frame and beautiful counenance,
and good size, and extraordinary milker-so
good mixer that soon as she had calved she
sunk rapidly in flesh, and would continue all the
summer, that we were almost ashamed TO see her
with the other cows; but her produce, when sold,
were invariably equal TO any thing we had; and
when she was dried, which we had difficulty in do
ing, she laid on fat faster and evenly than any
COW | ever saw. This was what call profitable
ANIMAL and II Is such animals as these our agricul-
rural societies should encourage Let not the diff
Guilty of decision deter them. Where there is
| will there is a way. The cows should be brought
TO certain spot the night before, MIXED clean,
MIXED at a certain hour the following morning. the
quality and quantity of the milk tested, and if ne
cessary, the offspring shown along with them"
| The following practical suggestions deserve at
tention; though applied by the writer 10 Herefords
| they are applicable to other breeds:
! sin most instances our helfers calve the wrong
time OF the year. dropping their calves from the LIST
| Of December to the LIST Of February-the cows ear
ller-consequeniiy they are on dry fodder as soon
they eaire. Now, these heifers calved in May or
June, on the first spring Of grass, good flow OF
/ milk would be the result | know one farmer
whose cows calve about Christmas; his heifers are
5ulled 70 calve IN May or June, when they are two
years old; these calves put cows whose calves
are weaned, and the heifers MIXED that sum-
mer. They not bulled ill the following Febru-
airy, and get summers rest TO make out the loss
Of growth by calvIng at two years old. BY this
! plan he secures his cows to be good mixers, and
| at the same time good breeders.
"Another method to secure good mixers is to rear
the heifer and steer calves on . different plan The
steers cannot be kept too WELL the heifers should
be taken by hand. Each lot should be fed for
distinct object By forcing the heifer calves and
making them up fat, tendency to early maturity
is given at the expense Of the milking qualities"
With reference TO the last suggestion, we may OBJ
serve that 1t may perhaps be desirable to give
heifers somewhat more range whilst rearing than
IS necessary or desirable for steers but ex
perience leads US believe, that for the purpose Of
making them good mixers they can scarcely be too
well fed during the first two years. After that
time breeding animal will seldom be too fat