Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-09
farmers Department,
Blood Stock---What is it

MANY farmers have most curious notions IN
regard to the meaning of the phrase " Blood
Stock" Many have an idea that it must be
imported stock, and held at a high price, be-
cause it has been brought across the ocean.
But in England there is a wide distinction
between what is called blood stock and the
common stock of that country. Certain bree-
ders of stock have been extremely nice IN re-
gard to breeding. They have selected from
the common herds of cattle the very best they
could find, and have kept them apart from
the common run of cattle, casting off all the
inferior individuals that often show themselves
in the best herds.
BY pursuing this course for years in success
sion a race is superior to the common run of
cattle-and at length this race becomes so per-
feet that you can place much reliance on the
progeny. Different courses have been pursu-
ed by stock breeders in England-but gener-
ally the aim has been to produce large animals,
and such as will fatten early, regardless of
their merits as mixers.
The short horn Durhams meet the views of
those who pride themselves in the growth of
the largest animals, and such as will fatten at
three or four years of age. These cattle are
said to fatten at less expense also than the
promiscuous herds of our country-but as re-
liable mixers the full blood Durhams have
failed to give satisfaction to purchasers.
But a prejudice exists against what is cali
ed blood stock" that is, imported stock, and
the question is often asked why is not our own
stock as good as any that can be imported ?
We have COWS of no particular breed that will
excel the general run of imported cows, and
why shall we not rely on them in preference to
what is termed " blood stock ?"
Now we have no idea that the farmers of
Britain are the only people capable of pro-
ducing 4" blood stock" They have taken the
lead in this business, and to them We look for
information in regard to results-but we are
not bound, hand and foot, to the opinions of
foreign breeders.
Let us examine this subject fairly. Is it
best to breed promiscuously and pick out of
the mass production the best looking individu-
als-or is it better to endeayor to rear a race
from the most noted mixers, and keep that
race apart from the mean animals which are
often reared as farm stock ?
A drover who goes into the interior to buy
cows will prefer such as are bred by an old
farmer who has long been in the practice of
raising his own calves, and breeding from the
best of his COWS. A farmer who has pursued
this course for 90 years or more has now, in
fact, blood stock" of his own production, and
can calculate with considerable confidence on
the qualities of the calves or young cattle that
he has produced.
By pursuing this mode VI can rear rs good
blood stock as any foreigner who ever lived.
Time, patience, and strict attention are need
ed to come to the result which foreign breed
ers have come to in the improvement of their
herds. We can have as good cattle as any
that have been produced in England if we will
have patience and continue long in the right
course.
1t often happens that an individual cow of
no particular breed, will yield more milk and
butter than the average of blood stock. What
fit? Will her progeny do the like ? If
we cannot rely on her progeny we cannot &C
count her as of any great advantage to the
public, though her owner may have made pro-
fits out of her.
DroverS go annually into the interior to buy
COWS to supply a demand who live on the sea-
board or near large towns where young cat
tie cannot be raised without great cost. A
shrewd drover picks up 80 or 40 of the best
COWS that he can find in Vernon or in Canada.
Well, he sells to those who cannot afford
to rear calves. The purchasers are benefited
by this course of trade, but the State is not
advancing by this course of traffic. The best
lot of cows is transferred from Vermont to
Rhode ISland-but not the least advance is
made in the improvement of stock. Rhode Is
land still continues to make veal of all the
calves, and Vermont continues to rear all, good
and bad.
And yet we hear croakers declaiming against
blood stock, or select stock, because a bastard
individual is sometimes found to prove supe-
rior to the average of blood stock or legiti-
mate stock.
Imported stock, and all blood stock, should
be judged by its real merits. If Americans
will pay the same attention to breeding which
foreigners have done, they can, without doubt,
rear as good animals as any Of foreign pro-
dnction. Will they not make the trial p
Mass. PLoUmqn.