The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-06
The 5armtr.
BREEDING FOR MILK.


The property Of milk yielding is heredi-
tary. In would indeed be contrary to
reason If it were otherwise; for milk is
structurally portion of the COW, and even
its liquid proportions are influenced by the
character Of the structure through which
they must pass to appear in the reservoirs
of the gland. We thus find individual
cows Of great excellence in any breed
which has been used in the dairy for gen.
CREATIONS, as well as other individuals of
poor quality, and we are enabled to deter
mine which ones are large mixers by ex-
ternal signs or structures. The popular
appreciation Of this fact Of heredity is ey-
ideneed BY the generally favorable opinion
Of the Ayrshire breed as Of large milking
capacity aud the difference Of opinion as
to the milking quality Of shorthorns. In
the one case, breed kept and reared for
milk, and milk in large quantity the rec
ognized product; in the the other case, a
breed kept and reared either for milk prin-
eipally or for beef purposes, and hence
opinions modified according to the eharac-
ter of the breeding which is under obser-
walton. The average yield Of the so-called
native COW, although she has been subject
to years Of unconscious selection and often
times careful selection in her breeding,
cannot be in excess Of 1860 quarts yearly
for the best dairy regions of America, al
though individual selection by good farm
ers may increase the average yield Of first
class herds 1880 quarts annually; the
highest average results we can figure for
single years being about thirteen hundred
quarts per COW. The Ayrshire breed has,
however, been bred for milk, aud conse-
quence the yield Of average herds can be
placed at about two thousand quarts; Of
superior herds at about $500 quarts, aud
at 1900 quarts even, per COW per year.
As We near countries where breeding is
carried on for the purpose of milk, we find
but small yields. The wild COW Yields but
sufficient for the use of the calf; among
the table lands of Columbia, where the
cattle are but partially domesticated, it is
only by allowing the calf to run with the
mother by day that small quantity Of
milk can be obtained at night. Among
the Damaras Of South Africa a first-rate
animal rarely gives more than two or three
pints daily, and this only in the presence
Of her calf. The small cows Of Brittany,
on the other hand, have yielded, as an
average for FIVE dairies, including 50 COWS,
1,243 quarts in year; dairy of the |
small kerries in Ireland reports 1881
quarts for an annual yield the Wausha-
kun herd Of medium sized Ayrshires IN
Massachusetts,, as an average for 10 ami
mails, yielded 1872 quarts per COW in S72,
the herd of six at the New Jersey Agri
cultural College, Of heavier animals under
high feeding, averaged 2,25s quarts per
COW in 1872. The heavy Friesland and
Dutch breeds, 1450 pounds, in the neigh
borhood Of Harlem, on excellent pasture,
as stated by Or. Startling, Inspector Of
Dutch Agricultural Schools, to average
bliss quarts per COW per year. The in
dividual range of cows varies exceedingly.
We offer for maxima in this country
Ayrshires, weighing 900 pounds, 1888
pounds milk, in Scotland, -, 496 pounds
shorthorn, weighing | 400 pounds, IL ,7O5
pounds milk Holstein, weighing 1,225
pounds, IL ,68l pounds milk cross be-
tween Holderness and Durham, weighing
1880 pounds, II, lls pounds milk grade
shorthorns, 1887 pounds. = .Scicatiic
Anaerican.