The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-12
Agricultural Department:
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AMERICAN CATTLE.


The islands forming tho Brtisllg Group
have, In times gone by, been surpris-
ingly fertile in the production Of dis
tnct breeds Of cattle, each OF whichis'l
now famous all over the world, we
had almost said for some special OK
cellcncc or other and in fact, many of
our best breeds are Known in all the |
quarters, and in most of the countries
in the globe, and the bare fact that they |
have spread so far. and wide is proof
enough OF tho high estimation in which
they are held. 1t is impossible TO do
more than conjecture as to the method
by which nature produced the different
breeds of cattle that are found in these
islands, and we can only in this manner
ascribe the pecuiaritics of form, size
and appearance to the influence OF soil
and climate in each district to which
any special breed of cattle is or has
been peculiar. But while it is evident
that purely natural influences tend to
the establishment of many distinct
types, families or breeds of cattle in the
wild state, 1t is equally SO that domes-
tication has tendency to diminish the
number. Be this as it may, however,
British farmers in each and every dis
trict are naturally and commercially
proud of the cattle with which they arc
familiar; and each breed has its cham
pions, who stoutly maintain that, all
things considered, it is equal or superb
or, as the case may be, to any other
breed. The various claims put for
ward, whether or not they are o little
too highly colored, have generally mUIe
truth in them than rival advocates will
admit, and are always well worth at
tention. In fact even at the risk OF
having to swallow a little hyderbolc al
times, we hail with satisfaction the adj
vocacy of the merits of any breed OF
cattle although l may be advanced to
the disparagement, by way of compare
son, of some other breed, for without
this partisan feeling, there would be
less Improvement made. 1t is not
however, in this country SO much as u
America, that the claims of rivalbreeds
of cattle find the warmest advocates
In England, the discussion OF such mat
ter is left in the hands of professional
journalists, our farmers ,contentine
themselves for the most part, with ora
discussion, with the silent yet eloquent
tales that are told by the prize list o.
our important shows, and with just al
occasional set-to in the papers in cases
where the different breeds come into
competition for the champion prize a.
the best animal in the yard, or for some
such cause; but ON the other side Of the
Atlantic the friendly contest is going
OH almost continually, and all kinds O.
imaginable arguments, supported by
all sorts of possible figures, are used tC
hot th;e tl.at A,ftha Atha,. k,a n r
mostly English is the best as dairy
stock. nrt
Two things are noticeable by way O.
contrast between the two countries
while in England the greatest prideliel
in beef, in America the production o
milk is the chief tombstone of superb
GRITTY. AT all our shows, even iii classes
that are ostensibly set apart for the OK
hibition of dairy cattle, as such, W.
generally find that, in most cases, grca
pains have been taken that the COW
shall appear in the double capacity o.
milk and beef producers, the latter elc
ment prcdominating. This, was per
haps, more obvious eight or ten year.
ago, than it is now, for at that period j
was thought that we had 10 great ncct
to fear foreign competition in beef
though it was evident that we haC
everything to fear in that of diary pro
duce; SO beef was in the ascendant q
the speciality in the production o
which our shows have been designed {,
lend the greatest encouragement.
In the United States our chief thrc,
diary breeds stands out as promincutl,
as they do in this country, but the OF
der of merit is different. AS dairy cat
tie, not as mixers, perhaps, but as tin
best all-round stock, we place Short
Horns at the head of the list; and thi
is chiefly owing to their being excel
lent beef, rs well as good milk pro
ducers. But jli the states they ar
placed at the bottom: and some author
tiles 60 so far Dis to say that they do no
deserve to be rcckoncd as dairy cattl
at all. Jerseys and Ayrshircs are ri
walls for the foremost position in the cs
timation of tne American dairy farmers
though the former appear now TO b.
taking the lean; but Short-IIorns ar
nowhere in comparison. This is chief,
owing to the fact that in past years bee
has been much less negotiable articl,
than the products of the diary. In re
cent years, however, beef in Americi
has found new and undrcamed o
value; and this fact will in all proba
bility, tend, in a short time. to liz
Short-llorns into position correspond
ing with that which they occupy ia This
country. English Live Stock Journal