Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-08-06
Jersey Cows.
CLAIMS OF THEIR FRIENDS.
r. II. HOSKINS. NJ. ID.

CLAIMS OF THEIR FRIENDS.
A few years ago | interviewed a
Short-horn breeder upon what he
regarded as the objections to the
Jerseys. l said to him that it was
claimed there were no herds of dali
ry COWS in New England which
could average 800 pounds of butter
a year per COW, except those having
Jersey blood in them; also, that
there were no herds whose butter
was so uniformly Of good color, nor,
when properly manufactured, Of
such frmness, perfection Of grain
and excellence Of flavor; that, in
short, Jersey herd would yield
more and better butter than herd
ofan equal number Of any other
kind, with the same feed and care.
CHARGES AGAINST THEN.
My Short -hord friend answered
first denying that Jersey butter
was any better that Short thorn but
ter-that the Jerseys are worth lit
tie or nothing for beef or for rails
ing veal calves; that they are Of no
value for cheese, or for market-milk,
or for anything but butter; that the
bulls are as dangerous as tigers;
that the COWS are nervous, high
strung creatures, and very apt to be
kickers; that they are not hardy in
our climate, are especially liable to
attacks of garget; that they are
enormous eaters, and require much
grain feed in proportion to the guam
tlty of milk yielded. This was the
whole Indictment, as made out by
my friend. l think he accidentally
omitted to charge their hides do
not make so much leather as those Of
ShOrthOnrS.
CHARGES INVESTIGATED.
then inquired of another friend,
who had been an extensive breeder
of Jerseys, but who had shifted to
Ayrshires because grade Ayrshires
give much larger messes Of milk, and
his sales were mainly of choice vii
lage COWS, the buyers Of which
want to sell surplus milk to help
pay the COWS keep. | showed him
the Short-horn man S charges, and
requested his candid criticism there
on, which was given as follows: To
the first objection, he said the Jcr-
seys make no pretentions to being
beef breed. The true question was
whether, taking two average herds,
one of Jerseys and Jersey grades,
the other Of Short horns and Short
horn grades, keeping a strict ac-
count of cost and keep on one side,
and of sales of produce-bntter, beet
and veal galveston the other, the
profit will incline in favor Of either,
and if Of either, of which ? If the |
milk were made into butter and sold !
in the same markct,it was his judg- |
ment that the extra quantity Of the
Jersey butter, without any allow
ande for quality Or any saving in
feed in an equal number of cows,
would more than balance any prof |
it from sales of beef and veal. But
if the milk were made into cheese,
or sold for market milk, the Short
horns, if good mixers, would pay
best. This answer to the first
count covers the second, also.
In regard to the ferceness of Jer-
sey bulls, he said they are often I'M
ruly,especially if kept confined. But
he believed that bull of this breed
might easily be 50 reared and han
died as to be quite safe with ordi-
nary precaution
The fourth objection.the nervous
ness Of the cows. he said was an
objection only with those who make
use Of milking-stool gestures and
cowhide-boot discipline in the cow
stable. He thought kicking men
made kicking cows, and that while
the Jerseys hre not yet SO thorough
ly christianized as TO love their enc
mics, they know their friends. They
are lady-like breed Of cows, and
and will submit to be handled only |
by gentle men.
AS TO hardness, he observed that
the Jerseys will not endure as
much roughness as the poorer class
of native cows, but they are healthy
and long lived under the only treat
ment which is profitable with any
kind ofdairy stock. He added that
they are not more liable, in his ex- i
oerieuce. TO suffer injury from gar 8