Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-05-03
The Best Breeds of Cattle.

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best breeds of each race are interesting
queries OF course the best breeds are
those that we can get the most money
out of in the long run, taking one season
with another. The best breed of cattle
for farmers to raise and keep are those
that combine in the same individual con-
stitution, hardness, and dairy and beef
products in the highest degree. All
things considered, the best beef animal in
the world is the modern Short-horn, con-
sidering quantity and quality. The milk
richest in butter is given by the Jerseys,
and the COW giving the largest quantity
is the AYRSHIRE. The hardest of the
improved races of thorougbreds are the
Devons and the Herefords. The black
and white Holsteins combine many good
qualities in an eminent degree. Yet their
status is not as we'll defined in this coun-
try as some of the old breeds that have
been cultivated for longer time. The
grades Of each of the above named breeds,
by crossing the bulls on native COWS, are
strongly marked by the best qualities that
characterize their sires. 1t is the grades
Of these several breeds, simple and COM
pound, in cross bred, that we as Mime
sofa farmers will have to do with; and
now, of these, which is the best? We
want the cows that will give the largest
quantity of butter-yielding milk, and those
that will furnish the largest, finest, and
earliest maturing calves for beef. The
best quality of beef is highly marbled,
and comes only from finely bred animals.
The Shorthorn, Devon and Hereford cat
tie mature the earliest; when we'll fatten-
ed, furnish marbled beef that sells for the
highest price in market. The cost Of
raising steer to three years old, or a
heifer to her maturity does not materi-
tally differ in the different breeds. A
good high grade steer in the Chicago mar
ket will oftener sell for 81 cents per
pound than native steer will for 81 cents,
and high grade Short-horn will be much
heavier at that age than either of the 9th
ers; Hereford next, and Devon although
equally fine is the lightest in weight, and
consequently the least profitable. The
Short-horn grade steer in the eastern mar
ket, up to this time, has been unequalled
for the uniform quality of its beef at an
early age, in uniformity of the animals, as
to weight and general appearance, and
have consequently brought the highest
prices. This breed also takes the prece-
dence in the dairy. The little Devons are
fair mixers, and the milk of excellent
quality. They are hardy and easily kept.
The Herefords larger, but poor mixers,
yet hardy. The Ayershires large mixers
valuable for cheese making, poor for but
ter, and only medium for hardness. The
Holsteins large mixers, their milk most
valuable for producing bone and muscle
in young growing animals, but of no es-
tablished status for butter, but fair for
cheese. Some individual cows have prov
ed large butter producers, but they are
considered exceptional. Their milk is
best for children and young growing ami
mails. The Jerseys are noted for the
richness of their milk in butter oil. 0rdi-
narily they are very small mixers and
worthless for beef. A few Jerseys are
large mixers and large butter producers,
but these strains are few and very hard
to get hold Of; so on the reputation of
these rare and high priced strains the
thousands of inferior Jerseys that are in
capable of giving paying quantities of
milk are sold to the eager but unwary
farmers.
Of the Short-horns there are two dis
tinct varieties. One is large, rich milk
ers, the other very poor mixers, but each
equally good for beef. We are interested
only in the first, or milking variety. As
race they yield the largest quantity and
and best uniform quality of milk for all
purposes of any known kind. Enquire
of any experienced and successful cream
cry or cheese factory men in the country,
what is the best kind of COW for the dairy,
that comes within the means of the COM
mon dairymen. and the answer will every
time be, THE Grade Short horn" AS
the matter stands so far as is known now,
the Grade Short-horn having proved her.
self the best dairy COW for all purposes,
the question is suggested, us the Grade
Short-horn the creamery dairy COW for
Minnesota" Perhaps so. But consid.
ering. the qualities of other breeds above
mentioned, we think by judicious breed
ing,a better race Of dairy cows may be
easily and speedily raised than has ever
been seen. and we suggest it be done in
this wise: Raise heifer calves from Grade
Short-horn cows Of the milking kind, and
the large milking variety of Jersey bulls.
Breed these back to the Short-horns. and
you viii get larger butter producers and
freer mixers than any we now have.
The richness Of the Jersey strains will
for many generations to come. Roasester
Record and Union.