Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-07-22
Improvement of Mllk Cattle

We record, with great pleasure, in
creasing interest in, and growing at
tention to, clover, grasses, small grain,
and ferage crops generally at the
South. This lays the foundation for
and stimulates the desire TO have, fine
stock. We perceive this in the fire.
uuentinquiries we receive as TO where
and at what price animals of this or
that breed may be had. The plan
suggested elsewhere in the present
number by a correspondent to-wIt :
farmers in each noighborhood form
ing a company and buying for COM
mon use, bulls, etc, etc, o approved
breeds, is a most excellent one The
expense to each individual would be
triiling, whilst the advantages would
be very great-and we re- pectly sug-
gest the matter as one worthy of the
consideration of our country agricul-
tural societies.
In this connection, also, VIC would
repeat a suggestion made on a form
or occasion, and which, if acted on,
would contribute greatly towards
filling the country with the best of
mich cattle, the suggestion was to
abandon the indiscrimate raising of
heifer calves, and to select, with
greatest care, those destined for
mich cows, basing the selection up
on such points as have been discov-
cred to indicate probable good milk
lug qualities:
1st. Experience indicates hat the
calf of a good mixer is more likely
itselfto be a goodmilker, than the calf
of an Indifferent mixer; also that
the milk producing tendency is trans
mittcd not only through the hcifer
calf, but also through the bull calf;
in other words, a bull from a good
mixer is more likely to beget good
mixers than one from a poor mixer.
Bulls as well as heiters, therefore,
should be saved from the best milk
ers.
I'd. Form anil Aake.-As the mild
secreting power is a female charac-
teristic, it will be found most strong
ly developed in those COWS that arc
most decidedly feminine in other
words, whose forms arc most unlike
that of the bull. In a.well developed
masculine bull, the head, neck and
shoulders are thick and heavy, the
hips rather narrow and light-the
COW, on the contrary has small head
and neck and light shoulders, whilst
her hips are broad, to give room to
the organs Of generation and lackta-
ton. In selecting calves for mixers,
therefore reject every one that leans
towards the bull in having a short
thick neck, heavy shoulders and mar
row hips.
Sd. lIlk Marks. - Select those
heifers with a yellow skin and with
short hair on the bag, it being an in-
dication of rich milk, But the
point upon which most reliance may
be placed is that given by Guenon-
to wit: Escutcheon, or space upon
the bag and between the thighs run
ming upward to the root of the tail.
and which is defined by an upward
growth of hair whilst around it the
hair points downward. The JroadeJ
and higher up this space extends, the
better The mixer. The c%scutcheon is
Observable in bulls as well "a cows,
and the former should be selected
for breeding purposes upon the same
grounds as the latter. A large milk
vein is also a good indication-as it
shows that q large quantity of blood
circulates through the uddcr and fur
nishcs q large supply of material
from which milk may he sccrctcd.--
Southern CUltirdtOr.