Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-28
For the VERMONT FARMER
Breeds for the Dairy.

What breed Of cattle shall we keep? If
the question had been this, what breeds are
the best to meet all the requrments of the
farmers of Vermont, it would have been
easier to answer. 1t depends entirely what
farmer keeps stock for butter, cheese, or
beef For the last twenty-five years have
kept from thirteen to twenty cows for the
purpose of making butter; have tried
grades Of most all the different breeds Of the
country; have made it a practice to raise
heifer calves from my best cows; and must
say that | never have raised heifers that
have given me SO good returns as my grade
Jerseys. l have MIXED, the past season,
thirteen cows the most Of them grades. One
two year-old five threc-year.olds and three
four-year-olds Have sold, besides supply
ing family of six persons with milk and but
ter, 2O5 pounds to each COW. This is moth
ing to brag about nor is it so well as many
others have done, but it is good deal bet
ter than have ever done before on the same
feed, as near as can jugde
never have fed my COWS very high, not
SO well as | intend to in the future.
have become satisfied that there are but few
dairymen who feed high enough to realize
the profit on the food consumed that they
would If they fed better | usually feed
considerable straw in the winter. Feed straw
in the morning with four quarts potatoes
straw at noon, hay at night. used to think
if fed hay when was feeding straw, that
they would not eat the straw as well. But
have found that they will eat it better. Fed
my cows last spring after they had come in
the value of three quarts Of Gne middlings to
each COW per day until the feed was good in
pastures When had sour milk plenty
gave them four quarts instead of the meal.
Now it is not necessary for n man who
wishes to improve HIS dairy to pay $3.50 for
= two. .year.old heifer all he need to do i.
to procure him good Jersey bull which he
caa buy for from s25 to $40, and cross with
his best cows la this way there is no risk
and If he is satisfied with the first cross
grade up. We have read in the FARMEI
lately that We should be very careful about
introducing upon our farms Jersey stock
This is all good advice and should apply t
all stock that we are not acquainted with
fancy stock especially.
A man who is inexperienced cannot realize
these fabulous prices that those will VIII
have been long in the business Of raising
fancy stock and have plenty of money Il
traffic as they see fit. know Of a young
man who bought some twenty or twenty-five
sheep at the time the sheep fever was on her
in Vermont for which be paid $50 per head
In his hands they were not worth five dol
lars head. Many have bought Durham
at fancy prices and could not realize an
more for them than they were worth 70
beef.
, Now | think before man can judge col
} rectly OF the quality OF any breed OF cattl
. 1t is necessary that ho should raise them
handle them and milk them. Until he doe
| so he is not suitable person to give advic
either for or against them. have not g
. the Jersey on the brain, nOr do | think the
will meet all the requirements Of the farmel
Of Vermont But for butter | think tho.
1 cannot be excelled know that you ca
, make better quality Of butter it is bette
0 color, frmer; the weather does not have /
/. much influence upon it and it brings bette
8 price in market l have realized more iC
3 my butter for the last two years than eve