Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-08-15
FARM AND PRESIDE.
TheIr Respective Composition.

Sdule dultual, oAPioiuAuS A"tsASA eh"s
he means such characteristics ''as rep
resent the highest state Of excellence"
What is meant by the phrase estate OF
excellence" l do not understand, bat
suppose it is intended to mean de
gree of excellence. Now there have
been enumerated in your columns
since the appearance of Mr.. Hardin s
letter, May oath, good number of
Short Horn COWS, of such distinguish
ed lineage and of such excellence as to
constitute them types Of the breed,
and that were great mixers. If Mr..
Hardin cannot be convinced by this
kind Of evidence, / do not know he
can be.
Rcmarking only, by the way, that
I do not think our butchers viii ever
be injured by purchasing animals with
a good 'spring of rib l wish very
briefly 20 notice Mr.. Hardiu's argu-
ment that mich COW giving 1850
pounds of milk in thirty days, must
do over ten times as much work with
that thick neck that she would have to
perform as beef ANIMAL to make 100
pounds of beef in the same time. I
can hardly think that Mr.. Hardin real
ly means this as a serious argunenta-
tive statement. If it were true, how
ever, it would follow % that it would
take ten times as much grass to main
tain the mich COW as to MAINTAIN the
tattening cow, or (2) that the grass re-
quired to make 1000 pounds of milk,
value SIS, would make 900 pounds
of beef, value say $l00-a conclusion
which would put stop to the dairy
business until the prices of butter and
cheese improve considerably.
The whimsical statement which ]
have quoted is nevertheless quite g
suggestive one and opens very inter-
esting subject. Cows milk contains
upon an average, according to DR..
Playfair and others, about 81 per cent.
of water. In 1000 pounds there
would therefore be about $50 pounds
OF solid matter. The calculated pers
centage of solid matter in 100 pounds
Increase of tattening bullocks and
heifers, taking the average of 90 ami
mails, was 754. The figures will be
found in volume XXI of the Joprnal OF
the r, A. S. of England, page 1913
This gives US, say IS pounds of solid
matter in 100 pounds Of the gain of
the fattening animal, as against 1O3
pounds of solid matter il the 1000
pounds of milk. The difference is
very large, though believe it is to be
accounted for, in part at least, upon
the theory that the milk does not all
come, especially not all the butter ii
contains, from the food consumed dur
ing the period of milking, but partly
from fat accumulated while the COW
was dry. Hence it is that cows milk
themselves down thin, as we say, and
hence it is also that much of the mea
that the liberal dairyman gives to hi;
cow in winter comes back to him II
the pail in summer. But I hope THU
subject will be discussed By some one
more competent to do it.
FACTS AS REGARDS sHoRT-HoRNs.
l append one or two quotations a
to the milking qualities of Sholt
Horns. DR.. Bell, in bis report on tn
Agriculture of Durham, Journal R
A. S. Of Eng. vol. xvii, page 107,
after enumerating the points of
Short Horn, goes On as follows
"These characteristics are general,
developed distinctly enough in th
beautiful animals of the breed to b
met with in the country at the presen
day, and they have other good quail
ties ofperhaps more substantial conse
quence. They are moderate eaters
quick feeders, soon come to maturity
and the beef is of first rate quality
They are also excellent mixers, ano
what is of consequence In some places
they are very docile and quiet to G
about the onstead."
And Mr.. STAFFORD, tho veteran ed
tor of the Herd Book, in the article o
Short> Horned cattle In Morton's Cy
clopedia of Agriculture, says: "B
many the breed is yet considered to
but Indifferent mixers. Perhaps til
best answer to this objection woul
be walk through the establishment
of our London dairymen. Nearl
every cow tied up here will be foun
ofthe common Short Horned or Y rl
shire sort /; though many indeed shv
much breeding, and are doubtle.
crossed with some Of our best bull
When the aim is to have them goo
mixers, they can generally be insured
on the other hand, the exhibitor at
prize show sacrifices one quality IL
the other. As the beast increases i
flesh, the supply of milk Will decreas
1t is still quite compatible, with onl
due observation. Oh the part of tt
breeder, to successfully develop thes
two different qualities in the same al
imal. A COW that in her day ma
have been a frstsrate mixer, will, @
being put to feed, make as good
carcass and produce quite as fine me
as many animals that have never bee
used for the dairy at all But it do
SO happen that no kind of cattle are {
frequently prepared for public displa
and hence the origin of a censure th
arises from the treatment, rather tha
the natural capability Of the beast
The seisction has only to be careful
made In favor of milk or meat. an
for the producron of either will Il
Short-Horn be found eminently oual
fed"
And so old Parkinson, In his mue
quoted "Treatise on the Breeding an
Management of Live Stock" al,
starting off oddly enough with d.
scriptions ofthe fattening COW and Il
mich COW as two distinct animal
happens to run against facts in his ow
and in his fathers experience, and
consequence lie ends the recital, +,
CARELESS Of his reputation for consis