The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-11
New Breeds Of Dairy Cattle.

lndiscrlminate cross. breeding is not adyisa-
Bile. 1t IS true that most of our improved
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine have
been produced by cross-breeding, that is, by
using pure bred sire OF one breed on pure
dam of another breed, but permanent type
N the progeny Of such cross-bred animals is
obtained only by judicious selections OF breed
ing stock and persistent effort requiring years
Of patient and watChful care. 1t is mistake
and one often made by inexperienced breed
ers--to suppose that new type or breed OF
any class of stock can be created in one two
or three generations of such stock. Like be-
gets like when the type has been established,
but until that is done, the progeny of unlike
parents will hardly be uniform. In the case
OF swine, for instance, one or more IN litter
Of pigs may present marked characteristics OF
the sire, and others may closely resemble the
dam, while others still may combine some OF
the characters of both parents In cattle, and
all other classes of animals the same rule holds
good. A calf may closely resemble one or the
other OF its parents or 1t may unite their goOu
points and have none of their defects, or 1t may
be a sort of nondescript without symmetry or
comeliness, and with but few desirable quail
ties Hence it is the best for the average
breed, and tor farmers as rule, to let men
of larg, experience and sound judgment in
such matters, originate and establish lie
proved breeds of such cross bred animals; as
much time, study and money Will be required
to reach desired results. II Is much better
economy therefore, for the ordinary farmer
and breeder to obtain ANIMALS of some already
established breed, rather than attempt to pro-
duce or create an ideal breed which may bet
ter SUIT his fancy.
Cross breeding, as we have said, implies the
crossing of pure bred animals of different es
I 4 H. OF k.p fOt1n ~
ed with grades or common stock.
Every man who rears stock should endeaYor
to improve its quality Dairymen especially
should realize the necessity OF improving their
herds-(and many OF them do)-tor therein
more than IN anything else at this time, con-
slsts the means of increasing the profits OF
their business. With a large majority OF them
the most feasible way of dong this, Is to use
pure bred male of one of the well known
milk breeds-Or of some family or strain of
other breeds whose dairy qualities are well es-
tabllshed-On their best COWS, rear the heller
calves of such cows and breed from them and
their female progeny.
This brings US to the point had in view at
the outset of this article, and suggested by a
discussion at late meeting of New York
dairymen upon the creation of new breeds of
dairy cattle for different sections OF the United
States, a spnopls of which we gave In the
Prairie Farmer week before last. In the
breeding and management OF COWS for the
dairy the rule indicated as the true and safe
one TO follow generally in cross-breeding, is
not so flexible There Is a necessity tor dairy
breeds adapted to different portions of the
country, and in creating such kinds or breeds
cross breeding and inbreedlng more or less, is
indispensable, 1t may be said that there are
already breeds of dairy stock, with differing
characters, quite sufficient TO meet the require
ments of any locality The fact remains that
many of our most intelligent dairymen are not
satisfied with any of these breeds; and some
Of these men have been long engaged IN build
ing up herds suited TO their requirements
Among these may be mentioned Mr.. Truman
Cole, the originator of the Holderness cattle
and Hon. Harris Lewis, who has established a
fine dairy herd with Shorthorn blood as the
basis. In passing it is not amiss TO say that
cross. bred Jeny Shorthorns, judlciously bred
by experienced men, have given excellent re
suits.
The creation of breeds of dairy cattle, suited