Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-01
The Guinea Cow.

This COW is but little known beyond Flor
ida and the southern tier Of counties in
Georgia. Many readers of the Gazette
probably have never heard of such an ami
NAL, and many more have no idea of her
peculiar qualities. Most of your readers
will probably be surprised TO learn that
there is a well-defned breed of cattle
bearing the name Of Guinea, =" for beyond
their own neighb0rhOod they have gener-
ally been supposed 20 be mongrels OF I'M
known antecedents and uncertain char
acteristics; but such is not the case. There
is we'll established breed OF cattle called
"Guinea cattle" in the above region in
dictated, and their most prominent char
aoteristisic their adaptability to the re-
gion where they are known.
The extent OF our positive knowledge
hpon the subject Of their origin is quite
limited. 1t is known that early in the
present century Col. Stapler, who lived
near the Florida line in Lowndes cOun-
ty, Georgia, owned several OF them, and
so far as known all the present breed are
descendants of the Stapler stock. Though
a man of large wealth and owning iine
estate, he saw the Importance of breeding
COW that was adapted to the country
and to the style of farming prevalent at
that time. Where he obtained mis- original
stock Is not known, but it is certain that
good degree of perfection.
The native pasturage of the pine bar
rens was neither luxuriant nor luxuri-
GUS, indicating an animal of small bulk,
hardy and wide ranger. He succeeded
in getting an admirable little animal that
asks for little other food than the scant
supply of grass she can gather upon the
range, and will keep fat upon diet that
TO the larger breeds would be starvation
ratiOns. AS TO the size, some fellow
says:
''She is a yard high, yard and a half
long, and about yard wide"
One brought to Enterprise, Volusia
county, Fla, is described by the local pa
per as follows:
''She IS broad on the back, slim neck,
small and delicate legs and feet, we'll
filled up in fore and hind quarters, long
for her height, which is just SO inches, and
an eye in which meekness and content
with gentleness shines. She keeps fat
where a common Florida COW would
st@rye, and So, gives about two
twice q day. This little COW might
butcher about 400 pounds net, and is un =
douDtedly the most contented and gentle
animal in Florida"
Another says:
Their body is scarcely foot from the
ground and the udder is enormous. They
are hardy and gentle, active browsers, and
eat about half what is needed for an ordi-
nary cow"
Yet another says;
"They are usually of deep-red color,
always fat and gentle, with crumpled
horns and broad escutcheon. They require
less food and give more milk than the or
binary COW, and are much harder and
more intelligent"
The Staple herd and homestead are in
possession of his son, who breeds them for
the market, and the demand is much in
excess OF the supply. There are now
several prominent herds in the southern
counties of Georgia and some in Florida,
while here and there individual members
OF the family are found scattered through
the State.
They differ considerably in both size
and color; while some are polled others
are not. The diversity is dOutless owing
to the different degrees of purity of the
blood. For years it was known as the
''Stapler cow" and attracted but little at
tentiOn. But after sales from this herd
began to be made the people of
the surrounding counties came to appre-
ciate their excellence, and of course they
must have name, and ''Guinea" was
the result. The demand for the 'little
COW" was such that it was seen TO be
worth while to breed them for sale. When
found for sale the price ranges from $40 to
500 for females; males much lower.
have no expectation that the "Gui-
nea" will displace the Jersey in popular
favor. but where pasturage is short and
expensive, or where women and children
do the milking, as is generally the case in
the South, the Guinea is really a desira-
bic COW. Like the Kerry COW of Ireland,
the Guinea is emphatically the ''pOor
mans cow" for in both cost and keep her
price places her within the reach OF the
multitude. Likewise II point of Aardi-
ness she has the advantage Of the Jer-
sey.
The Jersey is an exotic, while practi-
caily the Guinea is native "tO the manor
born" II we note single fact this ad-
vantage becomes emphatic.
To those who have given attention TO
the subject it is we'll known that the tide
water regions OF the South Atlantic aud
Gulf coasts, and much of the adjoining
Territory. are permanently infected with
the germs of the Texas cattle fever. Be
cause Of this there is a great danger Of
loss 10 bringing cattle from uninfected
districts into the regions named.
Many who have brought cattle TO Flori-
da have paid dearly for this little item of
knowledge. All susceptible new-com-
ers are very certain to have an attack Of
the disease, and the older ones are pretty
sure to die.
The Guineas have been bred within the
infected district for "A century or more,
and for all practical purposes this insus-
ceptibility may be regarded as an inherit
ed quality.
MANY regard this question of Texas
fever as a bar to ali Improvement in the
mass OF Florida cattle. But this is an
error, there is one relieving feature in the
case--whIls the Older cattle are very sure
TO die Of the disease the young ones have
il IN a mild form, recover from IT and be-
come like tue natives, insusceptibie to
any further attack. james n. White, IN
The Breeders Gdzette.
EARN AND STnCK NOrES.