Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-05-31
Grade Cattle.

llc ultIltS VI thoroughbred StOCh HAY t
been so often repeated that grades have
necessarily stood in the background
There has been a sort of false pride in con
nection with them on account of thei1
lower value when compared with animals
with full pedigree, which has lessened
the interest in them. Breeders of the
pure blood animals have helped to create
this feeling and to keep it alive by vaunt
ing the claims of the thoroughbreds and
pushing them to the front rank, on the
aristocratic line. This is right, perhaps,
as this royal blood is certainly more cost
ly, and it is this which lays the found
alton for the grades. By grades we mean
the progeny of pure-bred stock crosses of
the natives" Herein the greatest bene-
fits are to be derived from thoroughbreds.
The latter command a price above the
reach of ordinary farmers, and their
owners justly demand more for them, on
account of their cost to them and because
they really are more valuable to produce
stock. Few people realize how much real
benefit may be derived from judicious
crossing of the pure bred and the native.
A mongrel sire of any kind of stock
should never be used If farmer is not
able to purchase thoroughbred alone,
he should get others to unite with him
and make joint purchase, dividing pur-
chase price and cost Of keeping. When
this is done no neighborhood need be with
out such sire. The choice should be &C
cording to the wants of the community.
If cheese-making is the leading dairy in
terest, then breed of cattle should be Sc
lected which will furnish the largest yield
of milk, and this selection should be
governed by the circumstances of feed
In most dairy districts the Ayrshires will
be found to be best adapted to the pur-
pose, on account of their smaller size and
their ability to take care of themselves,
and to furnish the largest yield of milk
on shorter feed. Where the pastures are
luxuriant and feed is abundant, the Hol-
stems will give satisfaction. These are
the most valuable cheese-producing cattle.
We know of crosses Of the Ayrshires upon
the natives which have demonstrated
their value. These all make superior cows,
and one of them so wonderfully combined
the flow and quality of milk that she
would make 10 pounds of butter a
week. Where COWS are kept for butter a
selection of either the Jersey or Guernsey
cross should be made.
Seventy years ago an 'Alderney' bull
produced heifer calf, which was reared
and all of her female progeny saved. At
this day the descendants are kept in the
family of the owner of the original heifer,
and are noted as extra-good cows, and the
marks of the Attorney breed can be
traced, as we'll as the superior merits.
Nearly halfa century has elapsed since
Henry w. Delarow imported from Eng
land two cows and bull, Durham" cat
tie. These COWS were good mixers, and
recently saw two cows, descended from
this importation, which showed the old
Durham type in great perfection, al
though several generations removed by
CTOSSeS upon uaIlVeS, anu tuey WeIe IT.
markably good COWS. Another farmer
began with half-bred Jersey COW, and
by saving and retaining all his heifers for
Jersey bulls he has established a herd of
grade Jerseys which produce more butter
than any other dairy of like number, and
twice the amount he used to obtain when
all of his stock were natives. Other farm
ers in the neighborhood have followed his
example, and have secured thereby the
same results. Grades are nearly, if not
quite, as valuable as pure-breds for use in
the dairy. They possess the hardness and
strong constitutional qualities of the
natives, which keep them free from dis
ease and give them the ability to eat and
assimilate almost anything and turn it to
the best account. This is proved by the
fact that in experiments in feeding to at
tain great weight, grade Short-horns are
usually selected. They combine the
frames of the pure-bred and the strong
stomachs of the natives.-Col. d. r
Curtis, IN Moore's Rural Ne,o Yorker.