Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-06-22
LIVE STOCK.
BREEDS OF CATTLE,

this subject which appeared lately In the
New York Times, from the pen of MI. Alex
ander Hyde:
Regarding cattle as machines, whereby to
convert hay, gram, and roots into milk,
meat and power, the question recurs, what
herd of cattle will furnish the best machin-
cry. The Jersey may make gilt-edge but
ter, but Jersey beef would be costly in its
manufacture, and-poor when made, and as
for using Jersey oxen in blowing or hauling
logs, we should as soon think of using a
windmill in place OF a locomotive on rail-
roads. The Durhams have a large, well-de-
veloped carcass and take on fat as naturally
as wOodchucks, but it does not follow that
they are the best animals for milk or work.
What breed is best for the farmer to pur-
chase or propagate must therefore be deter
mined mainly by the use to which the cattle
are to be put. The soil, climate, and other
circumstance should also have their appro-
pirate influence.
If beef is the chief end of cattle husbandry
we should not hesitate to pronounce the
Durhams or shorthorns-we use the terms
sinonymously-as the breed. The blue
grass portions Of Kentucky and the great
prairies of the Mississippi Valley, are COW
cred with Durhams. A breeder of Ayrshires
has recently called the Durhams coarse
and rough-hipped," and they are large and
broad-lolned, but for beef this is just what
we want. We know that it is stoutly con-
tended by some that the Durhams will only
flourish where the soil is rich and the vege-.
tatson rich and luxuriant. DR.. Loring saws
that the shorthorns are out of their longi-
tude in New England. To do him no inius-
tice we quote his precise words at Haverhill
last fall taken down by . stenographer Els
sex county has not in it to-day q single
shorthorn farm. And when / talk about a
shorthorn farm / mean a farm that is SO
luXuriant in its pastures, so abundant in its
hay crop, that shorthorns can do as we'll
here as in Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and in
some parts Of the Connecticut Valley. Here
and there in New England there is a short
horn farm, a farm adapted to the growth of
large be~ef.producing animals. Up and down
the Connecticut Valley there are a few, but as
ageneral thing the large, heavy-groWing cat
tie known as shorthorns are not adapted to
our farms here, either for the dairy or for
beef"
We have often heard similar assertions
made by others, but they are not warranted
by facts, and It is time this prejudice against
Dnrhams for New England was corrected.
We have attended many agricultural fairs in
New England, and have quite uniformly
found the Durham cattle the most promi-
nent at these exhibitions. The finest herd
of cattle we ever saW-the York Mills herd
always excepted-was that Of Mr.. Ander-
son, whose farm is located on the highlands
of Shelburn, Massachusetts,. His neighbor,
Mr.. Wells, has herd Of shorthorns that are
but one degree inferior. Vermont is acqnir-
ing a great reputation for the breeding of
Dnrhams. We have recently seen a pair of
Durham steers, fourteen months old, and
weighing 1900 pounds, imported from Yer
mont, that a purchaser in Kentucky y ILL
nois might have to travel fer to find their
equals. The Doctor recommends the New
England farmers ITO select cattle of such
moderate proportions that the shortpastures
here will feed them well.' But where can
we find sweeter or more nutritious forage
than on the hill-tops Of New England? We
have the same blue grass here they have in
kentucky, and, if our observation is worth
anything, Dnrhams thrive as we'll here as
they do In Illinois.
We heard this matter debated recently by
q most intelligent club Of farmers, and one
OF the most candid and intelligent amonr