The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-31
Points on Cattle Raising.

more Importance than we are accustomed
to accord to it. In my judgment, it is the
basis of all good husbandry, because aside
from any pecuniary profits to be derived
therefrom, in the sale of animals or their
products, it is to this industry that we are
to look for the permanent Improvement of
our poor wornout soils, which great desider
alum is to be attained through the change
Of crops made necessary to support the ami
mails, and the careful outstanding of the
manure made thereby.
You have doubtless heard the old Ger
man adage, ''No, grass, no cattle; no cattle,
no manure; no manure, no crop" 1t may
be as Vile, the great French chemist and
agriculturist says, that one can raise better
crops at less cost by the aid of chemical
manures, but it does not seem practical to
me with the kinds of crops we raise. When
look around and see the old SCARED and
quilted hills, and when take my own ex-
perience into consideration, Mr.. Ville's
theory does not seem to work out in prac-
tice When l want to raise big crop go
for stable manure every time, and when I
apply it properly, no matter III how small
doses, it generally responds satisfactorily.
This is not always the case with purchased
manure. Sometimes l can hardly tell
whether l have applied anything or not.
And to take DR.. McBryde's statement as to
his success in raising cotton on the college
experimental grounds, one would be almost
afraid to venture much on commercial man
ures But not to wander off. To any one
who thinks of going into cattle raising, GER
tain considerations suggest themselves, as
what breed or breeds are best suited to his
wants, and how he is going to provide en-
closures, summer pasture and winter feed
for them. These are the subjects propose
to talk about.
Now first as to breed: There are several
leading varieties in South Carolina, and it
is of them only l wish to speak, because
from among them can be procured the
kinds best adapted to the wants Of the coun-
try in whichiwe live. They are the Short
horns. Holsteins, Devons, Ayrshires, Jer-
seys, Guernseys These are bred for specific
purposes, as follows, viz; the Shorthorns for
teef; the Holsteins for beef and milk; the
Devons for beef and work oxen; and the
Jersey and Guernsey for butter. Now all
one has to DO is to decide what he proposes
to raise cattle for, whether for beef, work
oxen, milk, or butter, and make his choice
accordingly. If he wants to raise beef he
will not select the Jerseys, or if he wants
butter he will not select the Devon. and SO
on through the list
Now as to the adaptability of these
breeds to our wants: The shorthorn is
very large animal, but in my judgment is
not adapted to our scanty pastures. 1t may
do very well for the rich grass lands of
Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois, where they
are brought to great perfection and sell for
large prices, but here they wear themselves
out in the vain search to find sufficient food
to maintain their magnificent carcasses,
and consequently deteriorate in size and
quality. They have been before our people
for many years, but their breeding is one
the wane
The Holstein is new breed, introduced in
this section few years ago from Holland.
Like the Shorthorn they are very large,
weighing sometimes 1000 and more pounds.
They are magnificent mixers, giving as
much as 20 or so pounds per day in rare in
stances, and make excellent beef, but how
animals of such large size are 10 be main
tanned on our short pasture is more than |
am able to tell. This breed. OF the Short
horn crossed upon the native, would, how
ever, greatly improve the later, and for
this purpose are very desirable.
The Devon is a beauty, Of rich red
color, of rounded frame, or medium size,
quick growth and action, and makes the
best marbled beef, and for work OK is
UNSURPASSED. They have been bred almost
exclusively for these two uses. In their
breeding SO little attention has been paid to
their milking qualifications that in the
Herd Book the size and shape OF the bag of
the COW is set down at almost nothing in
the scale of points by which they are
judged.
The AYRSHIRE Is a small or medium sized
animal, introduced from the short pastures
of Scotland. They give a very large guam
tity of poor quality of milk, rich, how
ever, in cheese-making qualities. Allen, in
american Cattle" calls her the poor mans
cow from her great quantity of milk. She
makes fair beef.
The Jersey and Guernsey are both from
the Channel Islands. The Jersey is bred ex-
clusively for butter All the beef produc-
ing parts have been bred away until
only poor, scrawney carcass is left, not
fit for beef, except for people who do not
know what good beef is. 1t is claimed for
the Guernseys that they are larger and
coarser boned, and make as much butter and
better beef than the Jerseys.
We have thus given you the principal
characteristics of these breeds. If you
mediate trying the raising Of cattle, you
will look around you, and see what the
markets near you demand, and make your
selections accordingly. II you are near a
town where milk is in demand, then select
the Ayrshire or Holstein, if you have excel
lently good pastures for the latter. If you
want to raise butter try the Jersey, or If
beef, the Devon or Shorthorn, or cross of
that upon natives.
But try whatever breed you may, even
to the natives, you will find many difficult
ties in the way. The first great difficulty
you will meet with is how to enclose your
stock to keep them from depredating upon
your neighbors. The stock law is won
derfully good thing. liz fact, IN such a
country as ours. With our system of labor
there would be no farming without it. But
it has practically killed stock raising.