Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-12

Sclccllng YOUNG pairy Sod.

mont or pertinent inquirIos-win always De well
coined 10 this department of the WArcnvAs.
Selecting Young Dairy Stock.
| mention FIRST, that my original dairy
was composed Of common but good Cana
dian cows | afterwards tried some Ayr
shircs, but found them too tender aud not
hardy enough to rely on. They gave large
yields of milk, but were always poor on the
same feed in comparison with some other
kinds. This proncnoss to lose flesh did NOT
so much hurt them whilst milking, during
the summer when feed was abundant-bui
told badly on them when spring came, ai
ter wintoring with others, and on the same
food. They almost always went into the
yard, 10 the fall, in low condition, and re.
quired more keep than others, to enable
them to be even 10 tolerahle order the fol.
lowing SPRING. therefore abandoned them
as unfit for the requirements Of a Canadian
dairy. then thought If could manage TO
get together some grade Durhams | should
obtain a larger yield Of milk, aud at the
same time have a breed prone 20 keep IN
good condition made the experiment aud
now erred on the other side. certainly
had hadsome herd Of cows but they prov.
ed on trial, most Improbable as dairy stock
so FAR as milking qualities went soou
found that these largo COWS ate more IN
quantity and gave less milk, and poorer Ia
quality, than ordinary good Canadian cows
1t is true they were always fat, aud had
beef been my object, I could not wish TO
do better but dairy stock was my view,
and | soon concluded that the grade Dur
hams did not answer. The great advantage
about them was their calves were as good
steers at two years old, as others, Canadian
bred, were at three and four; aud here al
benefit ceased The heilers did not as O.
rule, do well after calyiugi whether theil
condition affected them, or their youth Gas
they usual cayed at two years oId), l do
not know, but certainly the fact was So
Then during short pasture time, in August
the grade Durhams failed in their milk
more than others, and unlike others, whel
full pasture set in, did not recover it again
after September raids. The Durham yielo
of fall milk was but Of little value in com
parison with the food they ate. there.
fore concluded that all things considered,
these grades were not the best kind t.
keep. | also found that they were more
likely to miss being with calf; this have
no doubt was also due, in great measure.
to their good condition. BY this tendency
lost several good cows, having to ki.
them for beef; they were useless as strip
pers; a good Canadian would prove far
superior for that quality. now determin-
ed to part with all my Durhams, and GET
grade Dev0ns instead | sold without loss,
as the Durhams were fat and sold well
procured well-bred Devon bull, of the
largest size | could get, and hunted the
country, far and near, for grade Devon
cows and heilers. ZONE were less than
half bred in fact, | suppose very few were
in reality fully half bred. found several,
but they were valued high aud consequent.
ly my money did not 60 as lar as thought
it ought.
| had kept a careful account OF my pre-
yious dairy, in Canadian, Durham and Ayr
shire stock, and also afterwards Of the Dew
ons, aud am fully convinced the grade Dew
ons will beat all others when taking into
account all qualities as dairy stook-they
yielded more milk, aud Of better quality,
and much more butter aud cheese from the
same feed-and whilst the Durhams dur
ing August used to lose their milk, and did
not usually, as rule, regain it, the Dew
ons always did So The Deyons always
did so. The Deyous winterod better, and
with less food and were most certainly
much hardior--their heiier stock is excel
lent and usually hardy after calving; and