Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-15

I1OM 10 ulalnIall nSI III GE46 DCsl Vi
condition for profit.
The Holsteins are now recognized as
a very superior kind of large Short
horn cattle, remarkably good for milk,
both in quantity and quality. AS
working oxen they have very high
reputation, being large, strong, well
made, quick, high-spirited, have great
endurance Of heat, are very muscular,
and having great aptitude to fatten,
| drovers and butchers esteem them
highly. They are extremely valuable
to cross with other breeds. AS the
Holsteins are peculiarly adapted to
this section of country: are excellent
tor cheese-making Or production OF
milk for the family and market, and
for butter, we hope to see the breed
more extended in our country, believ-
Ing they are prominently adapted to
the wants of the general farmer, COM
bining the three desirable qualities OF
dairy, beef and work cattle. One OBJ
lection has been made to them, that il
proper attention is not paid their
breeding they are apt 10 degenerate
into large coarse stock.
THE sHORTHORNS.
The Short-horns would naturally next
claim our attention, deriving so much
as they did from the Dutch breed, aud
also on account Of the Importance to
which they have attained in this coun-
try. During the fifty years the Short
horns have been dOmesticated in this
country, they have peen imported in
| +hoya nfhn,- hraal
they arc more widely known, and have
acquired greater popularity; surely
this must have been from some good
qualities which have so strongly tended
to recommend them. They have be.
come acclim ated, and are healthy,
thriving on common food equally we'll
with our native cattle. They are OF
large size, fine tender meat, grow rap
idly, and take on meat and fac fast in
proportion to the amount of food they
consume, make powerful and docile
oxen, are excellent in the dairy, giving
large quantities of milk and butter and
rich cheese. With all these qualities,
we might readily suppose pure Short
horns were just the breed for farmers.
With many of our farmers the Short
horns have the reputation of being bet
ter beef-producer3 than milk-raisers,
but where proper attention Is paid to
having the bull of stock showing q
strong milking tendency and the cow the
same, excellent stock can be raised fo1
quantity and quality of milk. They are
naturally good 'slilkers, and where
raised for that object no mich COWS
excel them. The undue attention
paid to their beef-producing qualities
has led many to suppose that they
were not as good mixers as some other
breed; We have always found then
milk to be very rich.
AS to the color tastes differ. Red, rec
and white, and the red roans are most.
ly preferred, but any other color from
red to clear white is a good Short-horn'e
color. White is usually least preferred
simply as matter of taste, and there
fore as color for thoroughbreds is no.
so salable; but for beef-breeGing it is o.
little consequence the color, SO that the
animal itself is good.
THE DEvONS.
The Devons may fairly next claim
our attention, as perhaps next to the
ShOrt-hOrn, more of their breed have
been imported into this country thar
of any other. Of this breed, while or
a visit to DevOnshire last year, we no
ticed two kinds, the north and south
Devons, evidently originally from the
same stock, but by q long course O
breeding in special localities, of quite
different appearance. The north Dew.
ons are smaller and of deep, rich REQ
color; the south DevOns more of g
tawny red, rather larger and more
chunky, the cows of the former weigh.
ing about 1000 pounds, and those Of
the latter about 1000 pounds. The
south Devons are very beautiful, Of
small bone, but of very fieshy appear
ance, as they rapidly take on flesh al
two and half years old. The Devons
while giving moderate quantities oil
milk, give that of very rich quality
therefore, for those who have milk dai,
ries, we should not recommend them
but few to help the butter yield and
improve the color are desirable.
THE AYRSHIRE.
Among the breeds prominent in tn
British isles, the Ayrshire holds lead.
ing place. They derive the name OIL
the country of Ayr, in Scotland, where
they are principally kept. Their su.
perior qualities as mixers, and hardi-
ness of constitution, have induced vari-
Gus writer's to attribute part OF THEN
origin to their favorite breeds. In.
stances are cited of large yields, but
we believe the usual average to be 60C
gallons per year, or IT'S pounds OIL
butter, or $50 pounds of cheese, where
they are we'll fed and cared for. The
oxen work kindly, and steers can be
turned of at three years weighing zoe
or 800 pounds. The beef is excellent
the fat being much mixed with the
flesh, though not q favorite with the
butcher, as he can not sell so much
tallow as from other breeds.
THE JERSEYS.
The Jerseys are noted for the extra
ordinary richness of milk, and theil
beautiful form, thus making them the
most desirable breed for small country
places, for crossing with other breed;
to improve the strain of milking quail
ties, and for giving character to butter
of the dairyman. The milk of the
Jersey COW is particularly rich, and il
of deep yellow color, and of peculi
arly firm grain and fine flavor. The
amount Of cream is proved to be from
10 to 25 per cent, while the quantity
given is not large, but in proportion tc
her small size, good; its peculiar rich
ness and color make it of great i'm
portance in giving character to the
milk of a dairy. Twelve quarts