Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-03-21
Breeding Dairy Cows.

| n,
for butter and cheese, and the produc-
ton of beef. If it were possible to Sc
cure both of these objects in the same
class or breed of stock, it would be
most desirable to do SO, but past expe-
rience has shown that this is practi-
cally impossible. q A COW that will
give a large quantity of milk, it is
found will not take on fat readily.
The food consumed is converted into
milk and cannot therefore at the same
time be converted into beef So on
the other hand, cow that fats easily
cannot be expected and will not give q
large quantity of milk at the same
time for an equally good reason. What
is true in "a single animal is also
equally true with breeds or families of
cattle.
The Durhams are generally consid-
cred the best beef-makers. They had
their origin in England and have been
bred for a long series of years there
with reference to improving their size
and fattening qualities, and with but
little reference to their milking quail
ties. 1t is true that now and then a
good mixer is developed among them,
and from this animal, as an Individual
u strain or class of good mixers is
raised, but it is equally true that as
the milking qualities are developed
the beef fattening qualities are sacri-
feed. On the other hand, the Ayr
shire breed of cattle, from the earliest
information we have of them, were
naturally inclined to develop the dairy
or milking qualities, and were found
as general thing slow to take on fat.
They were originated in England also,
but in district where the dairy cow
was more profitable, and it naturally
followed that this quality was nursed
and assisted. Hence this breed have
reputation for the dairy. and are espe-
cially sought for by those who make
1t a business to sell milk rather than
butter. In producing the quantity the
quality of the milk in them is to some
extent sacrificed. The Ayrshires are
more slight in form than the Dur
hams, and as IL breed do not grow as
large. The Jerseys and Alderneys are
still more light in form than the Ayr
shires, and less is size as breed.
They are not distinguished as great
mixers, but for the richness of the
milk. They are preferred by those
who make butter as business.
The Dutch being cheese eaters have |
developed breed or strain of cattle |
called Holstein or Holderneys for |
which they claim in high degree the
development of the cheese making |
qualities. The DevOns also have their |
claims more as butter makers than |
milk givers. Their milk as a general
thing is rich, but what they make up
in quality they lose in quantity. The
best dairy COW, however, is not uni
formly to be found in any of the above
breeds, but individual animals are
now and then discovered in all that
are distinguished for the possession of
those qualities most desirable in the
dairy. These individuals sometimes
excel both in quantity and quality of
milk, and even in size and fattening
qualities. Such cows become distin-
guished in their neighborhoods as
prodigies, and their owners seldom
part with them unless at an excep-
tiOnal price. But good dairymen are
always on the alert for just such cows.
They know their value and can afford
TO pay the price. Hence such COWS are
generally collected together and make
up our best diaries. This would be all
right if our dairymen would take pains
to perpetuate the good qualities of
these cows by selecting and raising all
their most promising heifer calves;
but this very few of them do. They
make dairying their business exclu-
sively. They sell their calves at three
Dr. four weeks old to the butcher for
veal for the reason as they say the
milk is worth more to them for the
market or for butter than to feed the
calves. They are not in the stock
'aising business, and they can buy
COWS of others much cheaper than to
'aise them. And thus reasoning and
Dracticing they neglect the only means
If securing for themselves the best
iairies and deprive the State to a
great extent OF the opportunities of
general improvement in its cattle in
his particular.
We believe that one of the best en-
erprises in the State is suggested in
he above facts. 1t is this: Let q
armer who has q favorable location
md good land for the purpose get to-
'ether few of these distinguished
iIihclS, WIUIlOuU TcIeTeIlc6 10 Dreeu, |
olor or form. Secure bull from an
distinguished for the same
Qualities, and breed with direct refer
nee to producing the best dairy quail
ties in his stock. AS soon as his
letters are tried reject all except those
hat inherit good degree of the quail
ties of these parents, and breed from
hese and these alone. This idea close
y and judiciously followed up for a
ew generations of cows would be
rowned with an astonishing success.
indeed, we believe that in this way
he value of our cows for dairy pur- .
oses can be increased over fifty per
ent. There is money in such an I'M
ertaking, for as soon as man can
stablish reputation for producing
ows OF this character there would be
n almost unlimited demand for them.
he dairymen of the country would
ecome his customers, and families
esiding in towns and cities, who keep l
My one COW, would give the very {
ighest price for those of this charac-