Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-03-23
From tho Ohio Furmer.

Mich COwS---IiOw to Improve Them.
The Ayrshire of all imported Stock of
ofpure blood. possesses undoubtedly the
best milking qualities, and our dairymen
would do well to breed more of that
stock.
Breeding COWS, solely, or principally
in reference to their milking qualities.
have hitherto received but small share
of that attention at the hands of farmers
and dairymcn, which the subject so de-
serves. During the past season l have
had some cows which have given from
40 to So pounds of milk per day, and one
which gave 48 lbs. per day !; while 9TH
ers gave only from l8 lbs to 25 pounds
per day now hold chat one COW which
gives rs pounds per day, each and if
BY careful and judicious breeding, we
could bring all up to the highest standard,
it would certainly add greatly to the
wealth of the country.
The present practice of dairymen of
killing all their calves young, or 'dea-
coming them, as it is called, induces them
to use any little scrub bull that comes to
hand, and as it is generally acknowledged,
and from my own experience ard obser-
vation, l am confident that it is correct,
that in order to preserve good milking
qualities in the stock, il is as much or
more important that the sire be from a
first rate milk stock as the dam. it is ca
sy to see why SO few good mixers are to
be found among our dairieS, of their own
raising.
Many people say that they are by no
means sure OF raising good mixers from
first rate cows. but l am inclined to think
that it would be found on inquiry that in
nine out of ten cases OF failure, the sire
will be found to have come from poor
milk stock; whereas. on the other htnd
it the sire Is from fir rate milk stock and
the dam a first rate milker. nine oIt Of
every ten will be first rate mixers.
Another thing which in my opinion
has Il great influence on the milking
qualities of stock, is the quality of food
given them while growing. Those ami
mails which have been reared on such food
as is best calculated to promote secrerions
OF milk in the full grown animals, will be
found to be better mixers than those
which have been reared on food unttyo-
rable to the greatest secretions of milk
But the greatest difficulty with us Yam
kceS, is, that we want to realize the profits
sooner than we can by raising our own
COWS. and perfer buying them already
grown still | think that as all the cows
in the country must BE- raised by some
body, there might be great improvements
made if those engaged in raising stock
give attention to the foregoing sugges-
tions. 1t is subject well worthy the at
tention of dairymen but one which has
hitherto been sadly neglected.
AUnu- ma t, har.. that II * NOT no
cessary to go after any foreign breeds 10
improve our milk stock. for we have
many first rate mixers among our native
COWS. and with proper care and mtnage-
ment. especially in the selection of bulls,
and in the rearing of heiters the value of
the cows in the country might be improv-
ed twenty five per cent. in four years.
1t is true, nevertheless, that it would
be well to breed from imported stock such
as Ayrshire, and Spanish mixers, but as
animals of these imported breeds are rare
and high priced. breeders would do well
to improve the breed at their disposal and
not be in too grea hurry to adopt every
thing new, merely because it is imported
and has great name, but be sure that
their qualities are equal to their preten-
sions.
Whenever dairyman decides on raj
sing heifer, let it be from first rate milk
Qualities on both siles, aud if all dairy
men would improve every opportunity to
raise heifers from their best cows, using
no other sire but first rate milk stock, we
should very soon see a very great i'm
provenent in cows. There is no rooh
reason why Ohio should not be as celebra-
ted for milch cows as it is for improved
stock of other kinds.
1t any of my brother farmers differ from
me in my views would be glad to hear
from them through the columns of the
Farmer. B.