Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-01-19
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Breeds for the Butter Dairy.


The inquiry under the above heading, and
the replies elected, come TO the writer with
especial interest, as the same question has
been an important one in his own farm eA-
perience, which, II NAV be confessed, is not
an extended one. a. far as years Of investi
CATION have gone. \ few years ago, coming
into possession Of fine farm-one 200 valu-
able to be rented-he concluded TO adopt the
advice Of his physician, and turn To open air
employment to eounieract the evil resulting
from too much office work Having a very
small amount Of knowledge Of farm, but
great eagernc.s to learn, he became an in
terrogatIon point among his farmer friends
but with result somewhat disappointing
for even among the most successful there
was either lack of accurate information,
or lncapacity 10 convey II so as to satisfy the
expectations based upon their pro>peri,,
and evident skill. The conclusion reached
by the writer was that their industry, and
capacity to execute the farm routine with
the steady purpose that always finds reward
were mole to be credited with their fortunate
situations, than such calculations. exprci-
menls and Investigations as are needed in
nearly all pursuits to secure success.
The general opinion, however. was tina,
the writer's farm was well suited for a dairy
having broad hay meadows, hill pastures
and unfaIling springs, and as all agreed up
on this point, the question was narrowed
down TO butter or cheese. as the farm was
too remote from any large city to permit
selling milk at a profit. Cheese making
through factory would remove from the
farm great deal Of labor. bu, would also
terminate all chances of gaining for the farm
any special reputation. and bar the chances
for gaining by excellence prices above the
market.
Influenced by these considerations the
writer concluded to make butter a special
product-Winter batter for table u>e-and
deeming it un~ise TO hope for success i'll
more than one interest, all others were Sc
aside, and his energies were concentrated on
the study of the hes, breeds Of butter cattle
their management and winter feeding for
getting butter with a reminder Of June sun
shine in the flavor, and the gold Of the dan
delion in the color, without staining His
venerable farmer friends thought a good
milking Short Horn would be about the COW
"a big, solid COW, YOU know none Of Your
pesky little Jerseys, YOU bet, that YOU can
see through" &c Well, that seemed solid
sense, and would it hold in figures There
was an element Of doubt just there If a
moderate-sized COW would turn nearly all
she consumed into butter, and very little
into flesh and fat, She might paw. without
any regard to her final result in the form of
beef. The figures were rather in her favor.
If she would make 40 pounds of butter per
year more than the milking native or Short
Horn for say eight years, on the same feed
Of not on much less), it would be 800
pounds, which, at 40 cents per pound. would
be SIPS, sum that rather over-topped the
old beef reliance, based on the prospect OF
selling an old COW for $40, after feeding her
$50 worth Of mill feed. Carrying milking
cow for her final value in beef, seemed very
much like buying an old-style cast-ron stove,
weighing 800 pounds, that would consume
abundant fuel and give limited amount OF
heat, because after many years il would sell
well for old iron.
But not to repeat the pros and cons that
wearied and confused the writer, and would
assuredly weary and confuse the reader il
may be said in brief that il was determined
to abandon question and surmise, for actual
experiment. A large herd of natives and
high bred grade Short-Horns were "weeded'
until only the best remained, and with a
well arranged dairy, butter was made that
commanded about FIVE cents more thar
quoted rates. Thus encouraged, two fine
thoroughbred Jersey COWS were purchased
at a cost of about $500, and ledger account
made Of all expenses and original cost
Their breeding was successful, prize winner,
were among them, and without giving then
any credit for the great increase in quantit,
and quality of butter, and enhanced pric,
obtained, in less than three years, the sale,
Of registered Jerseys balanced the Ledger
charges against them, and left as many fully
paid for on the farm. This assuredly wa,
3 satisfactory result, and perchance all in
vestigatiops into The merits Of "buttel
breeds" would have terminated here had not
the writer seen on the farm of Mr.. {. VI
Beach Of Hartford some Guernsey cattle JUS
landed. There was a quiet comfortable
look about them, with a richness Of quality
that argued much in their favor, and so Won
the admiration Of the writer that bull call
was at once secured. Eventually among
the farm herd were Guernsey grades with
yellow around their eyes, in their ears, and
on horns, hoofs and skin. They promised
well and sold well the extra price over ma
tives on one lot, paid twice the cost of the
bull, and led TO so much confidence in the
breed that two imported heifers were bought
and placed side by side with two mature
Jersey cows.
Tested after their first calves they each
made over ten pounds per week of such gol-
den butter as was never on the farm, and
this without any high feeding. One was
not dry for years. and if her milk had been
used, ii would have produced half pound
per day when all efforts were made to dry
her Of. Other tests were made. Large
pans were used. holding the milk of thirty
cows. From these pans at one time the
milk of the Jerseys was withheld, and no
change was reported; then the milk from