Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-08-16
An Unlocked for Competition,

Iowa has cause to be proud of the laurels
she has received for her dairy product
We read to-day that the fact that butter
came from Iowa was enough to send it to
the highest market without inspection.
Iowa has watched anxiously other sections
that have sent spies to discover the secret
OF her success; that have adopted her
creamery methods and cans, and striven
to allow no effort to remain untried to
place them on the same enviable footing
in the butter market
And while We have been glorying in our
superiority, the Hollander ships over Hol-
stein butter that is pronounced superior
to our best and commands better price
1t becomes the dairymen of Iewa to ask
why is this thus?" Why can these Hol-
'landers who feed Iowa corn. and pay q
duty on their butter, make it profitable
to compete with US in our market7 How
is it possible that Dutch butter can be
shipped across the Atlantic and still excel
in excellence the butter that we fondly
supposed was q few yards above the best
The answer to these queries cannot be
found in cheaper feed, cheaper land,
better water. superior climate, greater
cleanliness or improved methods It
must be found in the adaptability of their
cattle for dairy purposes.
For centuries these thorough going
Dutchman, who have rescued their coun-
try from the sea, have made their cattle
their chief source of income; supplying
England with butter, cheese and large
per cent of beef. All this has been done
quietly and unostentatiously and yet
there has been an admirable perslstency
Of purpose that has overcome all obstacles
and is bringing its reward. These people
keeping in mind the beef value of their
herds, have developed dairy breed to
which the name thoroughbred means CEN
turies of breeding with a definite pur-
pose in view namely: butter, cheese and
beef. The result is race large and
handsome, capable of reaching enormous
weights. and in the dairy of giving, what
to us seem. fabulous quantities of milk,
rich in butter and cheese, not for few
months in the year but almost continually.
These cattle-the secret of their success
have been reorgapized by many of our
progressive dairymen, who have of late
years made numerous importations to
this country; where in spite of the op.
position from those interested in other
breeds they have gained firm foot-hold
and are generally recognized as the dairy
cow.
Those jealous of the success of these
Holstein cattle, at first, having seen only
such specimens as were giving large guam
titles of milk and hence thin in flesh,
pronounced them rough and ungainly.
When this delusion was dispelled by the
exhibition of those in better order, which
compared in smoothness and weight with
the beef breeds, the cry was raised they
were skim-milk cows. Their warmest
advocates having so many points already
in their favor modestly granted that they
were inferior to the Jerseys for butter
alone; and now it seems that even in but
ter they are taking tho lead, not only in
quality but in keeping value.
AT the 0nondaga County Fair, last year,
who're the competition ON butter is proba-
bly, greater than at any State Fair, the
Holstein butter came in competition with
gilt edge" Jersey butter from some of
the firms commanding the best fancy
prices. The committee was selected with
the greatest care and were ignorant IS to
ownership of exhibit, and the Holstein
butter won the first premium. A few
weeks ago. when in Mass, we asked a
cream gatherer where he found the great
est depth of cream, and he named two
thoroughbred Holstein herds. These
were yielding from 2 to 81 in Fairbanks
cans. ~<@ -: - r.
Does this sound like puff for the Hol-.
steinss We cannot help it; the truth will
hurt no one. Do we advise everyone to
buy Holsteinsf BY no means. North
Holland could not supply Iowa alone.
What we do advise i TO follow the ex.
ample Of these Hollanders. Breed for !
purpose. not spasmodically but persistent
", not breeding for butter to-day because
butter is high; and for beef next year be.
cause butter may decline. Breed for
line Of stock adapted to our soil. climate
and market. This means breed for beef,
butter and cheese. not only quantity but
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