Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-26
shorthorns as Mixers.


Shorthorns as Mixers.
some time since, we indicated the opinion
that if present tendencies continue as they
promise to.do the two prominent strains OF
Shorthorn bloodwould before long, become so
thoroughly differentiated that there would be
a wider and more positive variation between
the dairy Shorthorn and the beef Shorthorn,
than between the latter and the Hereford.
That in the East, particularly, the compe
ton with breeders Of Ayrshire, jersey and
Dutch stock is leading rapidly toward a
strict selection in Shorthous, with reference
to their dairy value, when at the sacrifice Of
form and beef points, cannot be denied In
deed, to deny this is the last thought Of the
breeder; he rather aims TO emphasize it, and
to call attention to the dairy record Of his
herd This is particularly the case in Yer
mont; aud with several prominent herds
visited by us of late, the deep mixers among
the cows, and the promising milk points OF
the heifers, have been pointed out and the
talk has been Of these jersey men, and
Dthese Ayrshire men" who are said to be
claiming too much, and to be unfairly repre-
senting the milking qualifications Of the
Shorthorn race
We are glad that this is the case. The
Shorthoms are a noble breed, and we have
been looking forward to the end OF this gam
bling excitement in Duchesses, Processes
and Oxfords, AS likely to be the beginning
Of return to practical common sense in this
matter So long rs cows Of certain strains
were held but as counters in the hands OF
sporting herdsmen, and the mere pedigree
was the all in all, without reference 10 any
individual merit, aud least Of all any merit
as mixers or butter or cheese producers
progress in the desired direction was impos-
sible. Ia fact the Bates blood, once 50
valuable for its milking characteristics
was in rapid process of being rendered en-
tirely unreliable if not utterly worthless
for the prime purpose for which cattle are
and must ever be bred in New England
1t pleases us TO be able TO record that il
the midst of this speculative excitement al
least one prominent breeder of Shorthorn'
in this state has been steadily and quetl,
building up milking herd, aud is able nov
to show dairy record Of thoroughbre,
Shorthorn cows that compares favorabl,
with the best of other breeds, and what i
better, one that is constantly improving
This improvement, which is unmistakable
is specially important AS showing that th'
breeder referred TO is not only seeking, bu
is actually practcing, a system of selection
breeding and feeding that is based on soun'
principles, and sustained by skill and eS
perience.
The herd to which we refer is that of Il
c. Cleveland, of Coventry, Orleans county
Mr. Cleyeland's father, Judge CLEVELAND
began as a breeder of Shorthoms in 1851
and this herd has been continuously kept II
since, and constantly improved by the pu
chase of choice bulls and COWS, as well as |
asevere process of wedding, in which inferiC
specimens were vigorously RENTED to I'll
butcher. Since this herd has come und'
the more especial charge of its present owne
the milk producing ability of the cows ha
been sedulousy cultivated, and the record {
the past year shows the satisfactory annu
average of two hundred and twenty-oi
pounds of butter per head, including Il
whole milking stock of heifers aud COW
The entire herd numbers upwards of fort
head, including yearlings, all but four {
which are pure Shorthoms, and these will |
thrown out the coming season, to be replace
10y thoroughbred heifers that will then con
to the pail.
The deepest mixer of this herd recor,
an average flow the present season of IF
pounds of milk per day, with butter pr
duet therefrom Of two pounds-this ON era
alone, with no meal, or other feed Tn
choice COW is now eighteen years old, toul
and hearty, and in calf by Mr.. Cleveland
fine bull "2d Lord of Malvern" CA. IL.
l4,7S2). This bull is four years old, pl
chase, when a calf, from the herd of A.
Griswold of Malvern farm, Monistown,
the price of five hundred dollars.
Cleveland has been twice offered one tho
sand dollars for him.
Writing of Mr. Cleveland's views aud
tentions five years since, in the pe1ao
Farmer, We said" Regarding the dairy qui
tiles OF the Shorthorns, he is of the OPT
ion that herd Of Durham cows will avera
more milk and make more butter and chez
than any herd of common stock of the san
number" The progress since made justifi
the claim he now makes that, when bred
pecially for milking qualities, they will
as productive as any Of the so-called milki
breeds. In regard " the comparative prof
to be gained in the dairy, between the
and others, careful competitive trials alo
can decide.