Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-07
AIderneys in the Herd-Book.

Attorneys in the Herd-Book.
Having been in at the birth of some
calves of the Alderney or Jersey family, in
the old times when gentlemen bred from
imported or home-purchased specimens,
without thought of keeping record of the
connection of the branches with the family |
tree, am now importuned to furnish in
formation of certain bulls, cows and calves,
by those who have, in the course of trade
and breeding, become interested in their
progeny.
Inside the herdbook, a Jersey or Alder
ney calf may be rated at 5000 or $3.50;
while 1 am told by a prominent breeder
that an outside animal without blemish,
answering in every point but the written
record, is worth no more than common
calf"
Here is matter for reflection. 1t is of Vi
tai importance that stOck-raisers learn to
value purity of blood and cattle-breeders'
associations are doing right good service in
melting the public to preserve and prize
the good qualities in family of animals
which are fixed by time Let us by all
means register, name, and number our
stock. There is no fear of time or print
ing ink failing for this purpose.
Meanwhile, there are fragments worth
the saving. There are families Of jersey
and Attorney cattle, which only by
stretch of courtesy can be entered in an
herd that calls for clean record to
the salt sea--cattle, too, that no one doubts
that the water of the stream they drink
from runs to them down hill.
Another consideration: possibly there
may be too strong a leaPins TO tho value of
the record merely. Does the recording
| secretary of these associations answer for
the intrinsic value of herd-bOok calf?
| Probably not. His cognizance can only
include the fact of direct descent from i'm
ported stock, leaving possible chance that
the calf in question may be an inferior
| specimen, not really worth the recorder fec.
While we keep a tight clutch upon the
good we have got, let us not forget that
though full purse may purchase fine
start in stock, nothing but the artist eye,
trained to love of perfection, following
| its end with patience, can secure proper
tionate results. | would rather see Jonas
Webb's spirit prevalent than to see better
! focks than his ever was imported by whole
sale
What makes the Jersey cattle valuable !?
The island. in the English Channel, upon
which they originated, are scarcely Of more
importance than those in Narragansett
Bay, or Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
Cow-keeping became of Importance as a
method Of turning grass into money. But
ter was the one thing, a in thousands Of
households in America now, which the far
mers could the easiest make an article of
trade, giving employ to themselves and
their families
Cattle breeding upon the islands between
England and France. one hundred and if
" wears ago, was attended with some diff
Guilty, unless the farmer was content to
make the best of what he had. Butter was
portable Bulls were not and system Of
breeding in-and-in was a necessity. With
a sharp eye to the cream-pot, these cattle
have been produced. Beef was secondary
50 were working qualities. there being no
logs to haul to the saw mill An animal
was produced with legs to carry about a
sound stomach, and large paunch, and t.
dy miIk-yessel, with q thin, yellow skin
and spotted color- over all If the wives
and children of the peasant farmers loved
their work-as why not pets were made
Of these kinc-docility developed. People
Of taste upon the main land found strange
and peculiar fawn-like beauty in these an
; finals, and carried it home with them. 1t
: became fashionable, and very worthy and
innocent fashion for the ruralists of Eng
land 10 dot their lawns and pleasure
grounds with these motly-coated cows
Here was an animal, as beautiful as a deer
as innocent as a lamb, that would furnish
yellow milk for tea and coffee, and a gold
en- pat of butter for the breakfast mullins
Plain cow-keeping in full bloom.
If you want beef and work, take some
, shorter route to it than by the way of but
, ter culture of the English Channel II
F; any neighborhood where fine butter is ap
J preciated, try the Jersey cattle, study theil
peculiar merits and breed them. Il shoulC
] like a thinner udder and longer teats, fo
instance unless the girls will do the milk
ing, as they doubtless did over the water
Obtain pure blood, and think enough of i
to knock an occasional degrading runt il
the head.
= fyou have a love of the art of breeding
4 for it is an art, and a high one-you ma,
= make the recorders flock about YOU in
short lifetime, begging an insight into you
: methods. An entrance into the herd-booI
- Is well, but it Is not so important in tn
n history of animals as was the entrance int
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