The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-02
CATTLEMEN'S CONGRESS-.
Meeting Of the Short Horn Breeders Of
the State Tuesday.
Proceedings Of tbs First Days Session-An
Essay By J. W. Robe, of Greencastle,
on tina Milking Qualities Of
Short Horns.

with Hon. Thomas Nelson In the chair,
the President, Judge H. Crsvens, OF Pendle-
ton, having died during the interim since
the ISIS. session. There were present: Gov
ernor Williams, Claude Mathews, Vermillion
County; W. w. Thrasher, Groves Postofice;
T.W. ". Sunman. Spades, Secretary; 8. F.
Lockridgs and J. w. Robe, Greencastle; s.
r. Quick, Columbus; Albert and James
Marlatt, Milton; Tnos. Nilho.t, Middle
town; Dr. J. P. forsyth, Franklin; H. G.
Meredith, Cambridge City; J. B. Dinsmore,
Bloomington, and others.
w W. Thrasber introduced resolution,
which was adopted appointing COMMITTEE
of three 10 select a shorthand reporter.
The Committee selected Mr.. Raymond, Of
this city.
The following preamble and resolution
was introduced, and adopted by rising
vote:
Whereas, IN the providence of God. who
rules the destinies OF men and nations. our
beloved citizen and ex President of our Asso-
citation. Hon. Judge II. Cravens. has been re-
moved from Us by death: therefore,
Resolved, That we feel that we have lost a
valuable member of our Association, good
grateful recollectioDs and deeply sympathize
with his family and friends in their loss, and
that our Secretary be authorized to mall 10 MS
family copy of this resolution.
Secretary Sunmsn reported the expendi-
lures in his office for the past year.
Treasurer w. w. Thrasher reported $54 90
IN the treasury.
Pursuant to programme. the following
essay was submitted by John w. Robe,
Greencastle, on the
MILKING QUALITIES OF SHORT HORNS.
The milking qualities of Short Horns: How
developed, how maintained, and at what age
to breed N order TO develop the best milking
qualities.
every Short Horn breeder, and may say to
the whole country; and one upon which at
least half their utility depends.
may be said in their favor as mixers upon this
OCCASION, but 10 speak OF some of their an
cient dairy qualities, and show how well they
have been and many of them are yet adapted
to the dairy and as family cows, and why they
should be the exclusive cattle of this country:
am aware that an impression does prevail
with some that Short Horns Will do for beef
but they are poor mixers
II Is fact that many OF our Short Horn
breeders have given their attention to the
form and symmetry OF the body and 10 fancy
pedigree, 70 the neglect OF the milking quail
tiles, to great extent, till some are badly i'm
paired mixers, and from this the impress
sion has gotten abrOsd.
The Short Horns gained their first notority
in EDglaud for their wonderful milk and butter
producing Qualities, where they long have
stood nigh as the chief dairy stock; because
they combine the milk and beef qualities In
Butthis quality of the Short Horns has been
lost SIGHT o! by many Of our American breed
eTs IN their zeal to produce fine symmetrical
form, I'LL. must confess, they have
deteriorated to some extent in this particu.
lar in our hands; still the milking qualities
are inherent IN the race, as every handler OF
them very well knows. for it frequently crops
out in every family in spite of all their efforts
The beef production should not be neglected,
but the same is true OF the milking qualities,
and had the same attention been given 10 the
liking qualities as to the beef productions,
for the iaSt quarter. OF a century, the Short
Horns would have been quite as renowned for
their milking qualities as for theip present
In tne wide beef-producing districts of our
country there has been great temptation, no
doubt, to disregard the milking qualities, as
milk was of little cOnseq uencS neyond that OF
raising & fine calf. And hence many have
given no thought or care to the production of
milk, and sufficed IL to pass unnOtlced, and
consequently deteriorated in this respect.
depends on their adaptations to the purposes
intended. The breed that fills most completely
all these REQ uirements will be the most sought
after, and consequently VIII command the
Cattle are bred chiefly for beef and milk. AS
q beef producing breed there is no aotmRl that
equals the world renown Short Horn.
ask, then: can they possess frst-class beef
Qualities and nrSt-claSS mixing qualities at
the same time? L answer most asSuredly
these two qualities can be combined in this
matches breed. The COW OF this breed has
every requisite to manufacture food into
milk on much larger scale than any other
breed, because she has larger digestive organs
and is capable of using them to this purpose IL
wanted to raise calves OF the INCEST value and
give milk, she is quickly fattened and turned
10 a good account with the butcher.
The aim has been OF many Short Horn breed
ers, il We may judge by their actions, to pro-
duce fine beef animal alone, which practice
should be discontinued, for by proper care the
fine beef an imaI and the excellent dairy co "
may as easily be combined in this breed as the
one quality alone.
Is the Short Horn COW just what she might
be as dairy cow? l certainly think not. Ii
aged as to damage greatly their milking quail
ties, because more money could be made out OF
them by high feeding to be sold for fancy and
show purposes than for mixers.
Thatthe milking qualities of the COW may
be damaged by improper management and
neglect, there can be no DOUBT.
Let us turn now and examine something OF
their ancient character as mixers by MIR.
YOuatt who Is the Oldest and best authority
that can be had. He says: "From the
earliest period as to which we haye any &C; G;
Durham and York have been celebrated for
their Snort Horns, but principally IN the first
instance. on account of their reputation as ex-
feats at the pail, would be TO invite incred-
ulity, but IL may be asserted on the best evil
denee, that taken as breed. they have never
In this particular been eQualed." Again he
say "In every instance they have shown
themselves superior mixers, and stand TO the
and in several instances they have never been
dry since they first calved, and 1t is by no
means uncOul mon lot tnem 10 ylelu lIllIIy W
thirty-six Quarts per day, and make twenty
pounds of butter per week +"
were originally a matchless milk breed
anything that has been lost by breeding alone
for beef and beauty, may soon be restored by
carefully breeding for both milk and beef
As TO the general excellence OF the short
Horns for The production OF beef and milk In
those times, the following is cited from the
same very high authority: "The number oil
COWS kept for the purpose OF supplying the me-
tropolis (Londonl and its environs with milk
is about l20J0." Theyare, with very few excep-
lions. of the Short Horn breed. :" The
universal preference given to this breed by
such a body of men, differing materially on
many branches of the treatment OF cattle, Is
perfectly satisfactory as TO their value and
that on three distinct points. Q) as to the
quantity OF milk she returns. This, however
is not all, though 1t may be the principal
thing which enters into the calculation OF the
metropolitan dairymeD. . The proprietor
OF the large dairy Is also dealer in cream, tc
q cOnsidera BILE extent, among these people; is
also great manufacturer of butter, for be
must have milk enough to answer
every demand, and that demand Is
exceedingly fuctuating; then 1t is necessary
that the quality OF the milk be good In order
that ~ may turn the OyerpluS to profitable