Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-03-23
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES.
The Short Horn as TNim0blc for
Miik as for Beef.


by DIR. II. A. Ensign, at the recent
meeting of the Vernon county (Mo.)
Short-horn breeders association, and
will be read with interest by lovers OF
the "red, white and roam"
There are those who deny that there
is any one breed Of cattle. that is profit
able and desirable for all purposes.
They tell US that it is impossible, in the
nature Of things, for the same animal to
excel at the pail and on the block. In
proof of this assertion they all claim
that the structure or form which
denotes deep mixer is not the most
favorable to taking on beef. Admitting
that certain formation is generally
supposed to indicate milking qualities,
while q robust compact, blocky animal
10 set down for good feeder, neverthe-
less many years of close observation and
experience has brought to our notice
many notable examples especially in
the Short.horn family, of generous milk
ers and also most excellent feeders. Not
only this, but their offspring not unfre-
quently possessed the same desirable
combination.
Since stubborn facts IRE more reliable
than theory and much safer to follow,
We are led to believe and admit that
these two browning glories of the bovine
race, milk and beef, are not necessarily
incompatible, but may exist to a remark
able degree in the same creature. In
deed, milk and beef are both dependent
upon certain general conditions that are
not inharmonious, but thoroughly in line
with each other. Both require active and
healthy digestion and perfect secretion.
As rule it may not be desirable for the
professional breeder to follow out this
double purpose in his breeding; a single
object followed closely may be better
for him. But the average farmer is very
differently situated. lie must have
both milk and beef--the more the
better-milk for his young calves, for
his family use and little golden butter
occasionally for market, to lubrcate the
financial wheels and make all things
run smoothly. The farmer must also
have beef, animals that will mature
early aud count for something at the
shambles when ready for market. And
his cows, If Of good quality, after their
milking and breeding usefulness is over
will be as profitable to him in the barrel
rs they were at the pail.
1t is useless to tell the farmer that in
order to secure all these desirable results
h must keep upon his farm two distinct
breeds Of cattle. He will not listen to
you If you do, for he knows too well the
yexatiOn and labor involved in such
procedure. His wants must be met by
family Of thoroughbreds that can supply
this "long felt want" has come to stay,
for every succeeding year will add to
their popularity and to their usefulness.
Where shall we look for this general
purpose animal, this bovine for the
millions? | answer with an assurance
horn OF personal knowledge, yon may
safely turn to the old reliable Short
horn, the first and the best. He will
not disappoint you. In his conquering
blood lies all possibilities. Every page
Of his past history is made brilliant by
battles won and victories achieved both
ut the pail and on the block. These
successes have not come of chance, or
because there were no powerful compet-
itors. They were won upon merit, and
often over field of noble animals. Ii
is IN abundance of flesh you want laid
ON just where it is the best-juicy. ten
der and sweet enough to place before a
king. The Short-horn has it in album
dance and ready for the occasion. As |
beef-producer the Short. horn has been |
subjected to the most critical tests the |
ingenuity of man could devise, and they |
have served only to prove his superior
ity. He has been weighed in the bal
ances" at our public fairs, at our stock
shows and upon the block and he has
never been found wanting" do not
ipcau W say tnaC he mas always been
victorious, but do affirm, and ! desire
TO emphasize it, too, that the Short. horn
and his crosses have taken over one. halt
ofall the sweepstakes premiums aw arded
10 beef breeds Mt our public fairs, and
in this country for the last
twenty-five years. And this fact alone
ought to be sufficient to satisfy the most
and increduous as to his
As a mixer the Short horn is very
Many cows OF this breed are
deep in the pail, and the
crosses are usually good mixers. They
more than one-half of the
larry stock of the middle and eastern