Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-27
SHORT-HORNS AS DAIRY CATTLE

The writer OF "Short-horn lntelli-
gcnce' in Bells Messenger, remarks
that the dairv-show in tn. Islington
Agricultural Hall last week suggest
some considerations which affect more
or less closely the Interests oi Short-horm
breeders. We hsve always contendcd
that the combination OF milking with
grazing properties gives the short horn
| its main advantage over other Breeds.
and that the bree Ter who eglects in his
stock either milk or beet does so to the
| injury ot the breed AT large. of his own
interests i'll particular and of the conn
| try, inasmuch as he diminisheS the pro-
duction OF food from the land. There
is no reason whatever, we maintain why
a cow which Is capable of breeding
calves that shall become prime steers,
| or prime tat hrlters. and OF making Z
fine carcass of be.l when her dairy usa-
tulness is ended. should no, be really
iirst-rate mixer. The early short-horn
| breeders strongly insisted upon the ne
cessity of having abundance OF milk as
wei! as abundance of flesh, and bred
cows that fulfilled their requirements.
Some modern breeders (why should not
| all?) act upon the same belief, with
success. The newly established dairy
show challenges the short-horn TO com
pete with all colners exception being
mado by the providing of distinct clas-
res tui' the Channel Island cattle). and
we would earnestly advise owners of the
best short-h0rnS to ensure the ample
representation of the breed. in It's high
est types. in dairy classes. In the coun-
try there are plenty OF shortl,ornS OF
excellent pedigree (tashionnble and un-
iashionable), great growers. rapid
| thrirers on moderate keep, and beautl-
tul TO look upon, which also lUr dairy
purposes. bear comparison with the cat
tie of purely dairy breeds. Their OWL
srs. valuiug them highly, are slow, no
doubt. to spare them from the farm aud
to risk thum on the journey to and from
exhibition, but something is due to the
| reputation of so useful a breed. and we
trust that its friends will rndcavor to
. improve upon last weeks display which
was. however, creditablc to the short
horns. Here is an opportunity To re-
pair the reputation so cruelIH Injured by
! the results OF the forcing system tor
shows OF professcdlv breeding stock
Still more, doubtless. might be done by
closer attention to the evidences OF
milking properties IN Judging at the
principal shows, but that is no reason
| why .hort-horn breeders should not put
forward their best strength at Il show OF
dairy sock. Fine. heavy tleshcd cows
Of beautiful form and stvie, although
they may be evidently capable of yield
ing Il TAR or even generous quantlty Q!
milk. do not come up to the standard
we would insist upon if they have shall
low fore bags. huge windy" teats, or
thick skinned. tless,y udders. Such ug-
/ illness, not necessarily Incompatible with
usefulness IS dairy cattle. tells of neg
lect in the breeding and management,
so far as regard dairy purposes. Until
we show :, sufficient number superior
short-horns, which manifest the here
ditary results of careful training for the
dairy. We forego the proof of one great
advantage gained by the early York shire
and Durham breeders. We would sug-
gest that young stock, never stinted in
! heepinS, should Gsver be forced by high