The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-03-24
BREEDS OF COWS.

cred a lecture on "Breeds Of Cows and 1
the Escutcheon or Milk Mirror" from |
which we select the following. Mr.. Haz-
gard is the best authority in this coun-
try on dairy COWS, having made the sub
ject a study for years, both in this coun-
try and in Europe. He says:
To properly consider and answer the
question, what are the best breeds Of COWS
for butter and milk diaries, the farmer
will not simply declare his preference
for the Holstein, Hereford, the Devon,
the Short.horn or Durham, the Guern-
sex..lhs.ASUh5e RE.st haYY6brt!aaist, me
Jersey breed, nor even for the native,
with its imperfectly traced and ming
ling ancestry, but will carefully study
the merits of each, or at least such rs
may be within reach, for the three lead
ing points Of profit, yield and food or,
in other words, the early period at which
they are ripe for the butcher; the great
amount of food they produce in return
for the food they consume, and the
large proportion of prime meat which
they yield. A proper consideration OF
these three points will naturally tend to
the study Of elbow to select a good
cow" and having obtained such an one,
elbow to maintain her in the best con-
dition for profit"
The Holsteins are now recognized as
a very superior kind Of large Short-ho
cattle, remarkably good for milk, both
quality and quantity. AS working oxen
they have a very high reputation, being
large, strong, quick, well made, have
great endurance OF heat, are very mus
cular, and having great aptitude to fat
ten, drovers and butchers esteem them
highly. They are extremely valuable
to cross with other breeds. As the Hol-
stems are peculiarly adapted to this Sec
ton Of country, are excellent for cheese
making or production Of milk for the
family or market, and for butter, we
hope to see the breed more extended in
our country, the wants of the general
farmer, combining the three desirable
qualities Of dairy, beef and work cattle.
One objection has been made to them,
that If proper attention is not paid to
their breeding they are apt to degener-
ate into large, coarse stock.
The Short.horns would naturally next
claim our attention, deriving so much
rs they did from the Dutch breed, and
also on account of the importance TO
which they have attained in this coun.
try. During the fifty years the Short.
horns have been domcstca,cd in this
country, they have been imported in
greater numbers than any other breed,
they are more widely known and have
attained greater popularity; surely this
must have been from some good quail
ties which have so strongly tended to
recommend them. They have become
acclimated, and are healthy, thriving on
common food equally well with our
common cattle. They are OF large size,
fine, tender meat, and fat fast in pro-
portion to the amount of food they con-
sumo, 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 the farmer. -
With many of our farmers the Shos
horns have the reputation of being bet
ter beef producers than milk raisers, but
where proper attention is paid TO having
the bull OF stock showing 4 strong milk
tendency, and the COW the same, excel
lent stock can be raised for quality and
quantity Of milk. They are naturally
good mixers, and when raised for that
object no mich COW excel them. The
undue attention paid to their beef.pro-
ducing qualities has led many to suppose
they were not as good mixers as some
other breed; we have always found their
milk to be very rich.
The Devons may next claim our At
tention, as perhaps next to the Short
horns more of their breed have been i'm.
ported into this country than Of any
other. Ofthis breed there are two kinds,
the north and the south Devons, cvi.
IDENTIFY originally of the same stock, bu,
by long course of breeding in special
localities, Of quite different appearance.
The northern Devons are smaller and OF
adeep, rich red color the south Devons
more Of tawny red, rather larger and
more chunky; the COWS of the former
weighing about 900 pounds and those
OF the latter about 400. The Devons,
while giving moderate quantities Of milk
give that Of very rich quantity; there
fore, for those who have milk diaries we
should not recommend them, but few
to help the butter yield and improve the
color are desirable.
the British Isles the Ayrshires hold Q
leading place. Their superior qualities
as mixers and hardness Of constitution
have induced various writers to attribute
part Of their origin to their favoritc
breeds. Instances are cited of large
yields, but we believe the usual average
to be GOO gallons per year, or IFS lbs.
OF butter, or ago lbs. of cheese, where
they are well fed and cared for. The
oxen work kindly and steers can be turn
ed Oft at three years weighing 500 lbs.
The beef is excellent, the fat being much
mixed with the flesh.
The Jerseys are noted for the extraor-
binary richness Of milk and their beau.
tiful form. The milk OF the Jersey COW
Is OF deep yellow color, yielding a but
ter OF rich golden color and OF pecu-
iiarly firm grain and fine flavor. The
amount Of cream is proved to be from 10
to IS per cent, while the quantity given
is not large, but in proportion to her
small size good. The Jersey is not a
large consumer even in proportion to her
size, and when dry thrives fast and
makes excellent beef. As a breed to
cross with the native, the Jersey has no
superior; refining those of coarse ten
dency, and giving her peculiarly rich