Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-03
For the vermont FARMER
More About the Jersey Cow.

In late numbers Of the FARMER we have
noticed considerable about the merits Of the
Jersey COW both pro and con. We confess
to partiaity for the Jersey. yet we will
endeavor to give such facts as experience
and observation have brought to our notice.
Que writer says "the Jersey is not hardy"
We well remember how that cry was raised
here when they we're first introduced, but
that has passed away and we believe
they are admitted to be as hardy as any
stock. How they might bear the privations
incident to starvation feeding aud lattice
work barns we are unable to say, but think
perhaps as well as any, for we have yet to
see the breed that is profitable under such
circumstances.
The man who owns COW worth one hun.
dred dollars and that is making from $50 to
800 pounds Of butter per annum is very
careful to see that his COWS are not abused,
kept cold or pinched in their food
Another gentleman says "they are so
costly that few farmers can afford TO buy
them" aud from the price that he mentions
as asked for one, we infer one Of three things,
either the owner did not care To sell at
any price, else it was very superior COW, or
Jersey cows are scarce in Vermont. Here
in Maine good Jersey cows can be bought
for one hundred dollars, some fancy ones
may sell higher, aud SO may those from some
herds that have established high reputation.
But if the gentleman wishes to improve
his herd with Jersey blood there is less er.
pensive way than buying COWS although rsquir-
ing more time and attended with little un-
certainty. Let him buy pair of calves and
he can soon change his herd to one that for
dairy purposes might be considered Jersey
although the majority of the animals would
be grades.
We have known gentlemen, having high
reputation 10 dairy matters, to give the pref
ference to grades over pure bred stock for
dairy purposes, but as yet we are unable to
perceive why, if properly, bred the pure
bloOded COW is not as much superior to the
half blood grade as that is to the common
COW. We speak generally, exceptional cases
can be selected to prove anything.
There has been one point advanced in the
FARMER that cannot bs given undue promi.
nence. That is that many breeders are
breeding more for show animals than for
practical results For oxen aud stock purposes
perhaps this may not be so injurious, but
our convictions are very strong that suck
proceeding must be very detrimental to the
dairy interests Of the herd. The Jersey is
valuable only for the dairy aud in breeding
them their dairy qualifications should be the
standard, and when the time comes that
buyers question closely concerning these
qualifications, the breeders will be more par.
ticular
Some time ago we noticed remark from
a prominent breeder Of Jerseys where he ex.
planned the small milk and butter produc-
tion OF his herd by saying that his promi.
nont object was "breeding for stock )" that is
for numbers and fancy rather than to estab-
lish high reputation for his herd in the
production of milk and butter. To avoid
many Of these Inconvenience every dairy.
man should bo a breeder and then breeding
for his own interests would have a herd of
superior animals. The Jerseys are very
PrecOcous we have frequently known heifers
to drop their FIRST calves at from twenty -Ons
to twonty-four month"; of age, and the bulls
to get calves at one year old. To breed 50
young would have tendency to dwarf the
size OF the COW somewhat, but would exert
SO favorable an influence upon tho future
dairy productions of the animal that we
should endsavOr to increase the size there.
after by judiciOus feeding.
S. G.. FOSTER.
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