Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-08-28
Testing Breeds of Cattle.

| hlVIlC Icstl pIOSIcoo 10 DelUR ndUe III
testing the comparative value of diff
ferent breeds of cattle for producing
either milk or beef. Nearly every
breeder devotes his time and means to
some one speciality. His interests and
probably his prejudices cause him TO
favor particular breed. He becomes
a member of an association for advanc-
ing the interests of the breed he keeps.
He learns everything that is in their ia
vor. In time he becomes violent
partisan. He finds all the good points
in the breed of cattle he keeps, and all
the Objectional ones in those he does
not. The chances are that he becomes
as deficient in candor as the average
politician or religionist. He seeks con-
trOversy, but not for the purpose of ar
irving at the truth. The war between
the admirer of each breed goes bravely
on, and the prospect is that it will con-
tinue indefinitely, if not for all time.
1t does not appear to be for the interest
of breeders to have it settled. The
controversy helps them to sell more
animals than they otherwise would.
The papers published in the interests
of the breeders OF live stock are reluc-
tant to take decided grounds in favor
of anyone breed, even though it is kept
for particular purpose. Words of
commentator are pretty evenly dis
tributed. Occasionally journal is
published in the interest of some one
breed of cattle, and when this is the
case it is likely to be like the organ of
church or party. 1t is devoted
strictly to the cause it advocates. A
young stock-raiser often finds it diff
cult to obtain impartial testimony in
regard to the comparative value of the
different breeds. The more he talks
with breeders the greater the difficulty
becomes of forming an intelligent
opinion.
The agricultural colleges in this
country have apparently accomplished
nothing toward determining the COM
parative value of the different breeds
of cattle for either milk or beef.
Considerable has been done in Canada
in determining which breeds are best
adapted to the climate and productions
of that country. The experiments of
Prof. Brown, OF the Ontario Agricul-
tural college, are of great value in this
respect. A recent number of Tie
Breeders Gazette contains the report
of Mr.. William Watson, superintend-
ent of the Model farm at Rougemont,
province of Quebec, Canada, on the
condition of twelve breeds of cattle on
the 18th of last May, they having been
under the same regimen during the
previous winter and spring. In this
report he says: There were twelve
h~nn ln ~,
ons, Sussex, Angus or Aberdeen, Gal
loways, West Highlands, Ayrshires,
Jerseys, French Canadian mixers,
Irish Kerrys, and Shetlands. All were
comfortably stabbed and fed alike; their
feed was timothy hay and water;
no cake, no corn. To save space /
will cortine particulars to the beef
producers:
/. Short-horns, of which there were
thirty-five breeding COWS. About one
third of these were nursing, and were
in very low condition, as were the
calves; the remainder, several of which
had not bred for over twelve months,
were in good shape, especially those
of the Cruickshank families.
2. Herefords, of which twelve were
females, three only having calves dur
ing winter Dams and calves were
very anemia or oloodless, while those
that were dry were in fair average con-
dition, yet not nearly so fat as the
shOrt-horns under the same circum-
stances.
3. Devons and Sussex, which l shall
class as one. All had calves but two;
the dams were in good condition, and