Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-08-04
shOrthOrns as Mixers.

| ~fNNAsS
in the folldWing editorial in the Watohman
Some time since. we indicated the opinion
that II present tendencies continue as they
promise to do, the two prominent strains Of
Shorthorn blood would, before long, become
so thoroughly differentiated that there would
be wider aud more positive variation be.
tween the dairy Shorthorn and the beef
Shorthorn, than between tho latter and the
Hereford
That in the east, particularly, the compe-
tition with breeders of Ayrshire, Jersey and
Dutch stock is leading rapidly toward a
strict selection in Shorthorus, with reference
to their dairy value, when at the sacrifice of
form and beet 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 10 Yer.
mont and 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 boen Of "these Jersey men,"
and "these Ayrshire men" who are said to
be claiming too much, and to be unfairly
representing the milking qualifications OF the
Shorthorn race
We are glad that this is the case. The
Shorthorns are a noble breed, and we have
been looking forward to the end of this gam.
bling excitement in Duchesses, Princesses
aud Oxfords, as likely to be the beginning
OF return to practical common sense in this
matter. SO long as 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 to any
individual merit, and least OF all any merit
as mixers or batter or cheese producers,
progress in the desired direction was mpos-
sibe. In fact the Bates blood, once so val.
liable for its milking characteristics, was in
rapid process Of being rendered entirely un.
reliable, if not utterly worthless. for the
prime purpose for which cattle are aud must
ever be bred in New England
1t pleases us TO be able to record that in
the midst Of this speculative excitement at
least one prominent breeder of Shortho. Us
in this state has been steadily and quietly
building up milking herd, and is now able
to show dairy record Of thoroughbred
Shorthorn COWS that compares favorably
with the best of other breeds, and what is
better, one that is constantly improving.
This improvement, which IS unmistakable, is
especially important as showing that tn
breeder referred 10 is not only seeking, but
is actually practicing, a system of selection,
breeding and feeding that lis based on sound
principles, and sustained by skill and exper.
ience.
The herd to which we refer is that of ii.
q. Cleveland, Of Coventry, Orleans county.
Mr.. Cleveland's father, Judge Cleveland,
began as breeder of Shorthorns in 1858.
and this h9rd has been continuously kept up
since, and constantly improved by the pur-
chase of choice bulls aud COWS, as well as by
a severe process Of wedding, in which inferior
specimens were vigorously remitted to the
butcher. Since this herd has come under
the more especial charge Of its present owner,
the milk producing ability Of the cows mas
been sedulously cultivated and the record Of
the past year shows the satisfactory annual
average Of two hundred aud twenty.one
pounds OF butter per head including the
whole milking stock of heifers and COWS.
The entire herd numbers upwards of forty
"N"N' iHS'uH'"b gOaiIubsi al OuI lOuI VI
which are pure Shorthorns, and these will be |
thrown out the coming season, to be replaced |
by thoroughbred heiIers that will then come
TO the pail.
The deepest mixer OF this herd records |
an average flow the present season of fifty |
pounds OF milk per day. with butter pro.
duct therefrom Of two pounds-this on grass
alone, with no meal or other feed. This
choice COW is now eighteen years old, tough |
and healthy, and in calf by Mr.. Cleveand's |
fine bull "2d Lord of Malvern" "A. ii. B. |
l4,7S2). This bull is four years old, pur-
chase when calf, from the herd of A. w. |
Griswold, of Malvern farm, Morristown, at
the price Of five hundred dollars. Mr.. |
Cleveland has been twice offered one thou.
sand dollars for him.
Writing of Mr.. Cleveland's views and in
tentions five years since, in the VERMONT |
FARMER, we said-"Regarding the dairy quail
ties Of the Shorthorns, he is Of the opin-
ion that herd Of Durham cows will average
more milk and make more butter and cheese
than any herd Of common stock of the same
number" The progress since made justifes
the claim he now makes that, when bred es.
pecially for milk qualities, they will be
as productive as any of the so.called milking |
breeds. In regard to the comparative profits |
to be gained in the dairy, between these and |
others, competitive trials alone can decide.