Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-09
raising cattlo i'm Switzerland.

the last report of the secretary of the
Massachusetts Board OF Agriculture, we find
an interesting chapter devoted to the raising
of cattle In Switzerland. Tie last statist les
give the number of cattle in that ancient re-
public at $4,000, of which $4,000 are COWS,
$4,000 oxen, and 100000 heifers. The report
represents that the condition of the cattle in
the Alps, notwithstanding the breed is hardy,
is generally far from prosperous. Bnt little
attention is paid to stabling, and i'll some
places, no matter how severe the weather,
cattle are compelled to endure the cold in the
open air. and although our western farmers
seem to think cattle thrive better without
shelter, leaving them for months exposed to
the full force OF the gales of Sleet ard snow
which sweep over the prairies, we do not
think the cattle of Switzerland are improved
by the exposure. But they are very knowing
animals, and when the time arrives for them
to migrate from the valleys to the mountains,
which occurs in the spring of the year, they
manifest great joy. They know they are TO
move by the appearance of a bell, which al
ways goes with them. The cows all get to-
gether, how and friSk about, recognizing the
signal tor the approaching migration. Their
spirits are often overlooking during the march,
and those left behind in the valleys often fol-
low the rest OF the herd, of their own accord,
indeed glorious life for them up there. The
bears foot, motherwort,' and the Alpine plan
lain, afford them wholesome and palatable
feed. The sun is less scorching than down
in the valleys, and there are no CAD flies to
disturb the young i'll their midday browse.
The report states, among other matters of
interest, that cows on the mountains are
thought to be more active and intelligent than
those raised in the valleys. Their life Is more
natural and their instincts more fully devel-
oped. An animal left very much to itself is
more on the watch, and shows more memory
than one which is always tended. The Alpine
cow knows every shrub and puddle, knows
where to find the best patches of grass, the
time Of milking, the call of her keeper, whom
she approaches with confidence, and knows
when to return to the hut. She scents the
approach of a storm, watches and protects
her young, and is careful to avoid dangerous
places. In this last, however, she does not
always show Judgment, as hunger will some-
times lead her too near a dangerous patch of
rich grass, and walking on loose soil, the
ground sometimes gives way, and down she
goes. If escape is hopeless, she drops to the
ground, shuts her eyes, and gives herself up
to her fate, sliding down over the precipice,
or if stopped by some overhanging root, waits
the cowherds help.
one OF the singular traits OF the Alpine cat
tie is their ambition, and the strictness with
which they maintain the right of pre- cedence.
The bell COW is the strongest as well as the
prettiest of the herd, and never fails to take
the first place in the march, and no other ven
lures to step in before her. The animals next
in strength, the ariStocracy of the herd, fol-
low The bell COW, fully conscious of her
power, leads of 10 the shed, and has often
been seen, when she has lost her rank and
been deprived of her BELL to pine away with
melancholy. If new COW is added to the
herd, she has duel of horns with each of her
new companions, and takes her rank accord
ing to the result of the fight. If two ami
mails are of equal strength, the struggle is OBJ
stinate.
We have few cattle in the country imported
from Switzerland. They are represented as
hardy and good mixers, and do not require as
much care as the English Stock but we al
ways thought the more attention cattle had,
the better they paid their owners.
TAKING SoMETHING.-An army correspon-