Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-17
Cattle Breeding.
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ton for him to decide. Is 1t to produce the
most beef or dairy products in given
length of time, or is 1t to breed better
quality of cattle than now exists for all
purposes2 These and similar questions
will present themselves, TO be answered
theoretically and practically. No doubt
many farmers would answer them in the
DRY readily, and in many cases in salts
factory manner to themselves; but to put
them in practice, and demonstrate their
theory to others is quite another thing,
which cannot be accomplished without
time and perseverance,, and will cause the
farmer no little anxiety, until he sees the
object for which he has been laborng pre-
senting itself in his herd.
The particular kind of cattle which tue
farmer will be most likely to be successful
in breeding must be determined by his
own judgment and the quality of the land
on which he proposes to breed them. If
he wishes TO breed cattle for the dairy
alone, and build up a reputation for breed
ing class of cattle superior to all others
for that purpose, he must first have farm
suited to the particular wants of the dairy;
his land must produce that quality of feed
which will give such flavor to his dairy
products that they will command the high
est market price. Should he possess all
the requisites necessary, he will now come
10 point where his best judgment will be
called into action that is, the selection OF
stock with which TO accomplish his object.
Hero he will be presented with the various
breeds of thoroughbred dairy stock, as
we'll as the common native and grade stock
from which to select. Here he must use
tho keenest discrimination and judgment,
and in coming to his final decision, he
must be governed by the records of the
various breeds for producing large quant
ties and rich quality of milk, and select
from one which cones nearest his idea of
perfection, always keeping sharp look to
tho ancestors as far as possible, as the poor
qualities are liable TO crop out in future
breeding.
We would call your attention 10 one
other important thing in connection with
breeding stock for dairy purposes; that is,
the manufacture of the products of the
dairy; for, unless the milk can be success
fully manufactured into butter and cheese
of the first quality, thereby obtaining the
highest market price for it, the breeder
will fail to convince the public and his
neighbors that he Is a successful breeder of
dairy stock.
We would now look at another class re-
ferred to; that class which are the best for
producing the most beef in the least time.
In the selection of this class of cattle, there
is probably better chance of success than
in any other, for the reason that there are
certain breeds that approximate perfection
in this respect. The breeder should always
have in mind the highesttype of perfection,
and whenever selecting breeding stock
should select those which come nearest this
form.
A word as 10 what the type referred to
above should be. We would recommend
an animal of moderate size, on short legs
land we never heard any complaint on ac-
count OF an animal being too short in the
leg,) with fine head and neck full in the
crops and fore flank. These points indicate
constitution, which is a vital point in breed
ing cattle for beef, which when combined
with those prominent points in the hind
quarters from which the most valuable
meat is taken, makes up what we should
call a proper type to breed cattle from for
beef purposes. Such an animal, when
given liberal keeping, will give good and
early returns in beef for that keeping. And
as the end of all cattle is beef it is a matter
of vast import when looked upon in all its
bearings upon agriculture. How import
ant it is that every farmer who has cattle
or breeds them TO sell should breed such
cattle that when they are no longer wanted
for the dairy or for work, they can be made
into good quality of beef. If the farmers
of this State would look at this matter in
its true light, and work for improvement,
the quality of the cattle raised would be
very much improved. Suppose there could
be added to each animal slaughtered in this
State twenty pounds, and the same 10 every
animal raised in the State and sold to go to
other markets, the aggregate of beef pro-
duced in the State would be greatly in
creased. Suppose, also, that this increase
of twenty pounds be obtained one year
earlier than the average age OF the animals
killed at present; here would be n saving
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slaughtered, which is an item of consider
able importance to the producers.
These are not vague theories which can
never DO put in practice, but are practical
suggestions which can be realized by ev-
cry breeder who is trying 10 improve his
cattle.
There Is a class of farmers-some of them
raise large numbers Of cattle, and some
but few-who do not appear to take the
least interest in this important subject of
improving their cattle. They go along
from year TO year, and the cattle they raise
to-day are just the same quality that their
fathers and grandfathers raised fifty or
seventy-five years ago. How to reach this
class offarmers and wake them, up so they
will see and feel that 1t is for their interest
TO breed better cattle, is question of some
importance. 1t is to this class of farmers
that belongs this important part of agricul-
ture, the improving the average animal OF
our State, whether 1t be for the dairy or for
beef, or for the best kind of cattle for all
purposes.
1t is TO this class of cattle for all purposes
that the farmers OF this State should be
looking aud using all means within their
reach to produce. The question arises,
how can we breed such cattle, or in other
words, how can we improve the cattle we
now have2 There seems to us to be but
one way of accomplishing this object, aud
that is by using thoroughbred sires. 1t
must DO perfectly clear to every candid
man that he cannot improve his cattle by
II.
used in his herd OF native cattle for the last