The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-30
The Best Breed of Cows for the
Dairy.

Published results are often seen of an
extraordinary production for week In
milk or hntter. of several of cur well
known breeds of cows, Ayrshires, Short
horns. Devons, Jersles, and an inference
from, the statements would seem to be i'm
,,lied that the value of the breed was thus
determined by the experiment.
The most profitable and desirable cow
FOR the dairy is not always The one who
for a short time, or on highly stimulating
or concentrated food, may yield the most
tity given, but the quantity prQ3taIly|
given, which determines the value; and
this involves not only the question of feed
ing and management, but the number OF
weeks in the year during which the COW
NAV continue TO produce 1t IS more the
quantity produced in the twelve months,
than in any one or two weeks which IN
wolves the profit We have known Of
cows giving twelve pounds OF butter IN
single week, and at that rate for two
weeks Consecutiqely, but who were dry
four to five months out of the twelve.
Thee were surpassed in the annual pro-
ductIon by other COWS in the same dairy,
whose greatest yield was seven pounds OF
butter in a week, but who continued milk
ING till within a week of calving time.
This power of continuous milking, In
which COWS so greatly differ, is probably
the result of attention or want of atten.
ton, when heifer is with her first calf
If the farmer takes care that she be we'll
MIXED up to within two or three weeks
OF her second parturition, the habit of
continuous milking may be formed and
be permanent. That is generally SO with
the jersey COWS and which greatly con
tributes to their value for the dairy, is
probably owing to the system of manage
ment in this particular, long pursued IN
the Channel Islands, which has thus be
come fixed habit, anG may be said to be
constitutional.
A perfect milch cow has for her special.
ty, (and she has no other,) the produc
ton of milk Ifjudie50usly ted a7et cured
for, by suitable food, in abundance and ga
gtetg. we do not think it is an injury in
any way to have her milk up to within
one or two weeks OF calving. The Jersey
or GUERNSEY COWS, which as a breed are
as healthy as any other, very often milk
I'D to within few hours Of their being
again fresh The accounts, therefore,
often to be met with, OF an extraordinary
production in an Ayrshire, Devon, or 9th
er COW, is only evidence as regards the
individual animal, and not test OF the
value Of the breed. This must be deter
mined by repeated trials, and Of large
number of individuals. The standard
production of milk and butter, except in
o very few dairies is not what it ought
to be. We hold that no cow should be
retained in any dairy who makes less than
two hundred pounds Of butter per annum.
By fixing this as a point to be reached, |
and one not very difficult either, farmers
Will then weed out, from time TO time,
all their short mixers, and replace them
with others. The present average prob |
ably hardly reaches $50 pounds per cow !
To get together 20 cows who will make
1000 lbs. Of butter a year cannot of
course be done at once but we know oil
ore dairy, certainly, where that Is the
regular average-and there is no reason
why it should not be reached by all. BY
raising root crops, and by steaming dry
food, there will be no occasion to let
cows 90 dry for six months in the year,t |
save the expense Of winter feeding.
Where what is called a summer dairy on
y is & pit, the dry COWS are, in cold
weather, left out in the barn-yard, often
without shelter, and made to support
themselves on rough fodder, straw, etc,
by which there is often more waste and
loss OF health and vigor, than if kept
milking through the winter, well housed
and generously fed. Such cows often
reach the spring weather in very poor
condition, with i greatly weakened vital
Ity, and readily succumb to abortion and
other diseases.
An important poirt in a good mich
COW was noticed by one OF our CORES.
pondents some few months since, as one
which he had proved and tested by sew
cEal years observation a heifer who
had her fist calf in the spring, when
succulent food was abundant, was always
better COW than such as came in fresh
when there was only dry food, not adapt
ed to promote full distentlon of the
udder and milk veins Where this was
the case, he thought they never reached
so large milking capacity Afterwards
Practical Farmer.
HalloO, there, Capting y said Broth