Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-07-20
Aaritnltnral department.
THE HoLsTEINs AND JERSEYS.

The Holstein and Jersey breeds
are monuments to the skill of the
originators and breeders, not only
because the breeders have been ena-
bled TO hand down TO posterity i'm
proved stock superior to that which
is native and we'll known, but be-
cause the two breeds have been
adapted to special and distinct pur-
poses. The Holsteins, though I'M
known to this country a few years
ago, have been displaced the Ayr
shires, which formerly stood at the
head of milk-producing families.
The Holstein possesses many advan-
tages over the Ayrshires, among
which are large size, uniformity of
color and richness of milk. Although
credited with the largest milk records
the Holsteins have rivaled the Jer-
seys as butter-makers and at one
time a Holstein cow-Mercedes-
held the position of champion butter
COW in the world. Nor Is she an
exception for while the present rec
ords of the. Jerseys for days and
weeks are wonderful, yet the Hol-
stems have rivaled them when the
tssts were made for long periods.
AS beef cattle they are not inferior,
and as oxen they equal the Devons.
Their great merit is in their ability
to give large quantities of milk, in
which they excel all other breeds
but they combine so many desirable
qualities that they may be regarded
as high rank of general purpose
cattle which heretofore has been be-
yond the reach of any class of stock.
The Jerseys have been greatly i'm
proved within the past ten years by
strict system of breeding close to
the best butter-producing families.
The recent feat of Princess I'd, in
which she made a record of over for
ty-six pounds of butter in one week
has placed the ability of the Jerseys
beyond any doubt, and, 'as her record
is being followed closely by Other
COWS of that breed, we cannot as
yet fix any limit which they should
pass. While the Jerseys are admit
ted to be the best butter-producers,
yet they do not yield milk largely.
which is not favorable to them, as
the milk of itself possesses. a value
in addition to the butter-produced
from it. A cow that produces twelve
quarts of milk, which gives one
pound of butter, does better than
one that yields six quarts of milk,
from which pound of butter is de-
rived, though the common practice is
to reverse these conditions, and give
the preference to the cow that pro-
duces the largest amount of butter
from the smallest quantity of milk
If the Jerseys were heavy mixers
such rule would be in their favor
but as they must compete with the
great yield of the Holsteins, flon
which large quantities of butter are
made, it is a disputed question
whether the future is more promis
ing to the Holsteins or to the Jerseys
as butter-producers.
The excellent qualities possessed
by both breeds, however, show wha
may be done by careful selection Of
the best animals, adhering closely to
certain strains that excel in the mos
desirable characteristics. The orig
inators of the many breeds of i'm
proved stock have conferred grea
benefits on humanity. They have
divided and classified our domestic
stock into families, or breedr, TO
certain purposes, and each breed il
given its own talent, which it may
improve. The Holsteins and jersey
for milk and butter, the Shorthorr
and Herefords for beef, the Merino'
for fine wool, the numerous Downs
for mutton, the Berkshires for hams
the thoroughbred horse for speed
the Clydesdale and Percherons TO
heavy draft, and the various breed
of poultry received their inheren
excellence through the agency of tn
breeders, whose skill and judgmen
have added millions to the wealth o
the civilized world. The value 0
the milk and butter alone annuall
produced in This country exceeds tina
of the capital of the national banks
and is greater than the value of TIL
crops of wheat, or the products o
the iron interest; and yet dairyin!
is only in its infancy Philadelphia
Record.