The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
"The Cow of the Future .
[southern Cultivator.I

loOuInern CulJlVaDOr.l
In discussing this subject in the
Southern Live Stock Journal, of re-
cent date, Mr.. Frank l.. CASTOR gives
it as his opinion that as there is a de-
mand for choice butter, cheese, cream
and milk, is there not a great induce
ment for breeders of dairy cows to inn
prove their stock for the production
of these articles, both in quality and
quantityp There may be fami-
lies of good mixers and
butter makers in nearly all
of the different breeds of cattle,
but when the farmers are intending
to improve their stock it is to their
own advantage to select breeders
from breeds longest and most thor
oughly established for the purpose
which be is intending to breed for.
Dairy farming is at present of such
Importance that figures are not neces-
sary to convince readers that there is
great need of improved stock; but
the most important question for both
the dairyman and the ordinary farmer
is, what bull shall l use in order
to make the most Improvement in my
herd and thereby increase my proftsp
II farmer intends to ignore entirely
the dairy qualities of his herd and de-
pend on production of beef alone, he
of course would not care to have the
blood of any but well-known and tried
beef breeds. But think l may safely
say that the majority of owners of
cows in the world wish to improve,
to certain extent at least, the dairy
qualities of their COWS, and the ques-
tion, to what bull shall / breed my
COW? is of the greatest Importance to
them.
Each of the leading breeds of cat
tie has been bred especially for some
particular purpose, and as long as
beef, milk, butter and cheese are de-
manded by the people, just so long
will there be thoroughbred stock
which is intended, and has been bred
for, its own particular uses.
But as a great many farmers do not
care to raise thoroughbred stock of
any kind and carry what is called
mixed farming, there will be a demand
for breeding bulls of all good breeds
to suit the ideas of each. A plan
which is adopted by some, and should
be by more, is to use bulls from differ
ent breeds as they want change of
blood. Any careful farmer who will
select bulls from the best families of
Shorthorns, Jerseys or HOlSteins in ro-
tationwil certainly produce herd of
cattle which will be as near what the
average farmer wants as can be
found. Each farmer must be his own
Judge, of course, as to which bull he
shall use; but it is well to take the
experience of others when we can get
it free. A certain dairyman in north
ern Indiana, who keeps 175 milk cows,
has used Shortborn, Holstein and Jer-
sey bulls, and the best mixers he
had were out of his native
COWS, and by the Jersey bull.
From our own experience the Jer-
sey has been the most successful
in grading up good average cows,
both for milk and butter; and when
quality of beef is considered, as well
as quantity, Jerseys hold their own
every time. But as Jerseys are usual
ly so much better for milk and butter
and more particularly cream, very
few people have had AN opportunity
to test the beef of this valuable breed.
After the common farmer has a
chance to ascertain the quality of Jer-
sey beef he viii not sell his grade Jer-
sey calves at a less price because the
buthcher tells him they are of no ac-
count for beef; but he will fatten such
calves for his OVID use and have finer
beef on his table than If he buys the
average beef in the market.