The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-02-11
agricultural Department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.


The following paper was prepared for
the New York State Agricultural Socie-
tvs Journal by DR. Sturtevan, an i'm.
porter and breeder of A'ishires and is
worthy OF careful reading by all breeders
of cattle, NJ well as Of those breeding
Ayrshires
Observation teaches that form is allied
TO quality in cattle So universally is
this known, that COW is always bought
on personal inspection, and never ire
spective of her appearance and condition.
1t is to the external shape that we look,
to TORN a judgment of the internal func-
tons and as our experience tells us that
the whole animal body is the equilibrium
of structure and action arising from the
pressure Of many diverse causes, we are
accustomed to compare in our mind pro-
duct with form, and in this way to elimi.
nate cause and effect. Thus we speak OF
those parts Of the animal whose form or
action point to other desirable qualities,
as points, and these points arc relatively
good or bad, in proportion as they indi-
cate more or less desirable qualities.
When q sufficient number of cattle
have similar external appearance, and
transmit their characteristic features in
the larger proportion of cases, we call
them a breed, and such difference of ex-
ternal form as distinguish this breed from
other cattle, become the points Of the
breed. As inheritance is universal law,
we find that these animals which transmit
to their progeny their own external form,
also transmit TO an equal degree their own
physiological functions. We therefore
speak Of cattle as belonging to a grazing
breed because such have inherited the
form of body and activity of tissue which
predspose animals of their breed to lay
on fat, and Of others belonging to a dairy
breed, because these in like manner have
through inheritance, the power of secret
ing from their blood larger yield of
milk In quality or quantity.
In selecting an animal we must look
first for the points of the breed, as indi.
eating a decidedly preponderating proDa.
bility in favor of the desirable qualities
pertaining to the Breed and second those
other points which are necessarily gencr-
al in their nature, and which indicate
qualities not confined to any particular
breed but belonging to the race to these
two systems Of points fashion has added
others which sometimes are correlated
with uses, at other times the result of
mere caprice, ornamental points as they
may be called, as the black switch and
tongue Of the Jersey bull, etc.
As the animal form is the effect Of so
many varying causes, we can produce
changes at will, when we can regulate
these causes. Thus a power is given to
the skilled breeder, which, when rightly
used, adds up the variation in certain
direction, and produces form best suited
to his purposes and his success is in d.
rect proportion to correct understand
ing Of natures laws of inheritance, selec-
tion, correlation, etc. When numbers of
intelligent men are working in the same
direction and for the same purposes, we
see the effect more speedily, more dis
tinctly, and the results are, from the ma.
ture of the case, moro satisfactory and
less liable to error. 1t is to the percep-
ton OF necessities that we must look for
this united effort toward the founding of
breed, and such perception must needs
be allied to intelligence, Tor intelligence
recognizes the useful points of an animal
which are to be perpetuated and improv.
ed. When once form is known to fore.
shadow profit, it will not only not be re-
jected when secured, but sought for with
the eagerness of avar:cc.
In Ayrshire we had the conditions for
the formation Of Il dairy breed; elm
ate adapted to grasses, soil suited to
dairying, occupied by class Of rent.pay-
ing farmers of the shrcwd, observing,
Scotch nationality, and the exclusion of
other sources of profit. The rent had to
be met; the COW was to pay it. Hence
the inferior COW was elected from the
byre to find her way to the butcher, while
only the better cows were retained and
bred from. Here selection came into
play Scottish acumen soon detected a
fact as to the bulls viz that the milk
ing facdlty was transmitted through
"Geordie" to his progeny, We now had
inheritance at work in earnest in favor
of the breed, and from this time a steady
advance. AS ancestral excellence became
intensified, it became ca Ter to secure ex.
cellence in the progeny; and observant
farmers perceived that certain marks us.
ually accompanied certain functions, and
gradually the correlation of shape and
yield was eliminated, and paints came in
as helpers. In truth, points which now
seem to determine the breed, were them.
selves formed from the necessities of the
breed. To be convinced of their value it
is only necessary to refer to the animal of
1911 and those at present in the yards
of our best breeders. In the Ayrshires
as in the Short Horns, the recognition of
the product desired, and of the value of
pedigree founded the breed the observ-
ance of points added value by producing
greater certainty discovering waste struc.
ture, and, adding greater unanimity to
the efforts of breeders. allied beauty to
utility.
The Ayrshire breed is now formed.
Its variation between the extremes of in
terlor COW and superior COW is great, as
in all breeds, but there is constancy in
the average herd. The typical Ayrshire
COW is the largest mixer yet produced
by nature or art the inferior Ayrshire
COW is still sunerior IN the overo1n mon
grel, sometimes misnamed Native. The
Native COW is yet to be produced, of
which more anon.
The points Of the Ayrshire COW may
now be considered in detail not only
those indicating the breed, but also the
good COW. Let us study her aptitulos
by her points
The usefulness of the dairy COW is in
her udder, and toward the udder. its