The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-21
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Blood Stock-What Ia It2

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! it must he imported Stock, aud held at a
high price, because it has been brought
across the ocean.
But in England there is wide dstinc-
ton between what Is called blood stock and
the common stock of that country. Ger
tain breeders of stock have been extremely
nice in regard to breeding. They have Sc
lectcd from the common run of cattle the
very best they cot,ll 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 sue
ccssion race is produced superior to the
common run of cattlc-and at length this
race becomes so perfect that YOU can place
much reliance on such progeny. Different
courses bave 3cen pursued by stock breed
ers in England-hut generally 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 us
Will fatten at three Or four years OF age.
These cattle arc said to fattcn ut less en-
pcnsc also than the promi>cuous herds of
our country-but as reliable milkers the full
Dnr'ams have failed to give satisfaction to
purchasers.
But prejudice exists against what is call
cd "blood stock" that is, imported stock,
and the question is often asked, why is not
our own native stock as good us any that
can he impaired? 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 2"
Now We have no idea that the farmers
Of Britain are tile only people capatle Of
producing "tiood stock.' They have ta-
ken the lead in this business, and TO them
we look for information in regard to
| results-Eut We are not bound hand and
foot, to the opinions Of foreign breed
ers.
Let lis examine this subject fairly. Is it
of the mass production the best looking
individuals-or is it better to cntlcavor
to rear :. .0ce from The most noted mil.
kers, and keep that race apart from the
mean animals which arc often reared as
farm stocka
A drover who goes into the interior to
buy cows will prefer such as are bred by an
old farmer who has cong Leen in the rrac-
tice of raising Ills own calves, and breeding
from the best of his cows. A farmer who
has pursued this course for twenty 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 lie has pro.
duced.
by pursuing this mode we can rear as
good blood stock rs any foreigner who ever
lived. Time, PATIENCE, and strict attention
are needed to come to the result which for
| eign breeders have come to in the i'm
provement Of their herls. We can haze
as good cattle as any that have been pro-
duced 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 of til Will her progeny do the
like? If we cannot rely on her progeny
we cairnot account her as Of any great adj
vantage to the public, though her owner
may have made profits out of her
Drovers 60 annually into the interior to
buy cows to supply demand Of people
who live on the sea board. or near large
towns where young cattle cannot he raised
without great cost. A shrcwd drover picks
up thirty or forty of the hes. COWS that he
can find in Vermont or in Canada:
Well, he sells to- those who cannot afford
to rear calves. The p,tscIIasers are benefit:
ed by this course of trade, but the State is
not advancing Ivy this course Of traffic
The best lot Of cows is transferred from
Vermont to Rhode Islands--but not tire
least advance rs made in the Improvement
of stock. Rhode Island still continues to
make veal Of all the calves, and Vermont
continues to rear all, good and bad.
And yet we lear croakers declai,ning
agains: blood stock, OF select stock, because
bastard individual is sometimes found to
prove superior to tie average blood stock
or legitimate stock.
Imported stock and ali blood stock should
will pay tho i; 'ss saIHse rel msgi|ss If Ame'icns
which foreigners have done, they can, with
out doubt, rear as good animals as any of
foreign production. Will they not make
the trial - Massachusetts Ploughman; T..
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