Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-01-28
NATIVE CATTLE VS.. JERSEYS
iHoLsTEINS, ETC. o zee
The Different Breeds Compared War
rem County Cattle Deteriorating.
VIOLA, Jan. a. 1888.

it q4 VIOLA, Jan, "a, 1888.
To the Standard. ,r. .iy at.. hertl
A great deal has been written by
different authors in reference to the
pecnliarities Of the different breeds Of
cattle and their adoption to different
purposes, and the characteristics of
each, on which their excellence main
ly depends. But the opinions of the
writers are frequently SO much, at va
rance with each other that the farm
er often rises from the perusal Of
them puzzled rather than instructed,
and even led astray from his interest
instead of being guided in its pur-
suit. The partially of each writer
IN favor ofs9me special, breed may
in part account for this, But the
farmer has a more satisfactory way
of reaching desirable. results if he
would only observe that kind of
identity always existing between the
breed, the soil, the climate, and the
markets. ,,,- -,..
Indeed the grand secret in breed
ing is to suit the breed to the soil, eli
mate and market. 1t is because this
has not been studied that those breeds
which have been invaluable in GER
tain districts have proved altogether
profitless and unworthy of culture in
others. Take the shorthorn COW on
a stiff blue grass sod, with an album
dance of rich food near by, and it is
not surprising, with their splendid
frames, beautiful forms, and beauti-
fully varied colors that they have be-
come objects of public curiosity.
Transfer them to our mountains and
place beside the little native brin-
die and pided COW, many of which
may yet be found in our mountains
and barrens in an unimproved state,
and they will dwindle and die on the
rough food with which the little ma
tives will keep thrifty. Although
the native COW is generally condemn
ed, yet they are far from being a bad
breed of cattle. They are exceedingly
hardy, having an unusual amount OF
energy and activity, enabling them
to live through the winter in their
native mountains with very little
help from their owners, and in the
grazing season fatten with an aston
ishing rapidly. They are generally
fair mixers. Many of them are ex-
cellent in this respect. The native
COW is truly poor mans COW, and
when crossed with some of the i'm.
proved breeds, furnish a grade sci
dom surpassed. Transfer either Of
these breeds to south Georgia, south
Alabama or Mississippi, and but few
of them will live through the frs
! season.
The Jersey COW, convenient to {
good butter market, with necessary
facilities for making good butter
has no equal. But in a district re
mote from a good butter market
and without the facilities for making
good butter, should always be regard
ed as an intruder, except in cities
towns and villages where familie
prefer making their own butter
There she may be kept both as ;
source Of pride and profit.
The Holstein breed combines il
an eminent degree the qualities o
both milk and beef, and on soils suit
ed to their keep (and especially 81
near good milk market or chees
factory, may be made very profit
able. Messrs. Burnham & Garner, @
Viola, have recently purchased
very fine herd of these cattle, and
a cheese factory should go up at Vic
la, (Of which there is at this time
good prospecD may prove a yer
profitable investment to the owners
besides contributing greatly to tn
prosperity of the surrounding cour
try. Permit me to say for the ben,
fit of our farmers that there are fewe
good bulls in the county now tina
there has been for fifteen years. TIL
, is made manifest even to the casu.
observer by noticing the differenC
in color of the young cattle of the la
, year or two, compared with those (
fifteen years ago. The /brindle
blacks and duns are much more con
0 mon now than then, while fewer red
roans and whites are TO be seen.