The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-11
JERSEY CATTLE IN GEORGIA.
surpassed-The Native Crossedwith
the Jerseys Make an Excellent

surpassed-The Native CrOssedwith
the Jerseys Make an Excellent
Breed.
GRIFFIN, GA, Sept. ., 1886.
Special Correspondence Palatka NEWS.
The interest taken in improved cattle
throughout the State of Georgia, and
especially in this immediate section, is
worthy of note. OF course, the meek
eyed Jerseys stand at the head OF the
list, and no doubt such is their dessert,
as there is, perhaps, none fully equal to
them for richness of milk and the conse-
quent fine butter qualities.
The Jersey is certainly thing of
beauty, as few tloridians can testify.
Small, shapely, and as graceful as
deer; easy To manage, gentle, and not
the least vicious. \ child may fondle
them without danger or fear of danger.
The Jerseys do well here, and have
proven very valuable cattle, indeed.
The imported are, as "A rule, hardy, but
not altogether as much SO us those bred
here in the State, the latter being as
perfect in health as the native stock.
The butter product made by some of
the Jerseys Is simply astounding. For
instance, the records show that cows
have made as much as 5ll pounds of
butter in one year, while others fire.
quently go as high as two and one-half
pounds per day tor weeks at "a time.
One pound of butter and two to two
and one-half gallons of milk per day Is
considered "A low average for the Jerseys
or the half breeds. 1t is no uncommon
thing for the cows TO produce four or
five gallons of milk per day when well
kept and tended.
One of the greatest improvements
that has been made III this section for
the last ten years is this one of cattle.
What was almost profitless cattle here
then-the native stock, almost run out
is now being improved by breeding
the native stock to Jersey bulls. The
cross makes n cattle almost, if not quite,
as good al imported stock. lt seems To
be most happy combination, and the
outcome Is a good boned, good quality
cow, an excellent and prolific milker,
and IA most desireble COW in every par
ticular; and although not, as a matter
of course, so salable as IA fool-blooded,
her value as a mixer is almost as much,
If ii is the milk and butter qualities that
gives worth to cows. The Jersey, as is
well known, IL small, and the cross with
the native stock which Is n larger boned
-
take on the good qualities of the sire in
almost every instance.
The fact has so firmly impressed itself
upon me that | cannot refrain from the
endeavor to impress upon the cattle men
of Florida the importance, well
the great profit that would accrue TO
them, of adopting this plan of improv-
ing their native cattle. \ Jersey cow is
no more expensive to its keeper than
Ia. Ln, . il 20
argue what advantages the improve
ment would bring. Few of the native
cattle of Florida, if current statements
are to be believed, are worth their keep
ing for milking purposes. The native
stock Is doubtless about run out, and
needs the infusion of new blood, new
life and new energies-just as horses
and other animals need to be improved
occasionally, If not with an entirely
different breed, at least a new family.
That the qualities of the native Florida
cattle can be improved greatly by breed
ing the cows to full blooded jersey bulls
none will deny. This improvement can
be brought about with u small outlay,
and when III a few years the offspring
shall have come into use, the cattle of
Florida need not necessarily he shipped
to Cuba and other countries in order to
realize a profit on them. At every pro-
vision store there will be II market for
the butter, and at very hotel in the
State a place tn dispose of tie rich milk.
Condensed milk may then Ice left in the
West or North, and the butter prove
sweet and as delicate as the odor of June
roses-quite different tn that we are used
to at present in Florida, frequently old
enough and strong enough to take care
of itself-wlil be luxury of which all
the State may be proud. There Is no
reason why we should not have this I'M
proved stock; let Floridians show their
progressive spirit and make this onward
step at once.
Those hest acquainted with the habits
and qualities of the Jerseys tell me that
il would not be advisable to import the
full blooded stock if full grown. y bet
ter plan would be to buy the native born
registered of southern raisers, and buy
the younger bulls. They are "A very thin
skinned cattle, and the full crowns
would not be able tn stand the heat of
Florida's long summers as well IA if
partly grown up in the State. The idea
Ia not bad one, and the hint Is thrown
out for what it is worth. The calves
that are born here are fully as hardy
the native stock, and the death rate is no
more, and the same, ii Is believed, will
he the result of the experiment in Flor
ida.
In the section of Atlanta there are
large numbers of Jersey farmers, and no
canned butter stands "A chance of sale as
long as Jersey butter is in the market.
The same is true of Griffin. and the de-
mand for the cattle is constant. This
only goes to show how an improve
ment must, once inaugurated, continue
onward-it'S like the measles. it's catch
ing. The people think more of their
stock than formerly-in fact they have
turned the crops out and fenced in the
cattle. They provide good pastures,
build she DIS, and IN every way guard and
protect the cattle, and for their pains get
good, wholesome profit in return.
When for milk and butter "A farmer keeps
cattle, he does not run large herd, but
gives the few better attention, wherein
comes the profit. Starved out cattle is a
thing of the past; likewise non-pro,itable