The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-04-13

The Jersey COW is dairy reformer.
Her influences in this direction are
apparent in the fact that since her
introduction, and the recognition of
her claims for butter making, the
quality Of that article has improved
beyond comparison, lis value has ad-
vanCed, and the demand has increased
in far greater ratio than the facility
to furnish it. In almost every COM
munity-indeed, it is pretty generally
SO everywhere-the product of the
Jersey dairy sells to eager buyers at
IS to 50 per cent. more than that
from other breeds of cattle, and it is
not uncommon, near large cities and
centers Of wealth, that the entire yield
of butter from Jersey herds is engaged
the year through at 40, SO and even
IS cents per pound.
She has introduced another impor-
tant measure of reform into the system
of management of the dairy herd. it
has been the custom Of milk and
butter dairymen to buy fresh COWS and
milk them through the season, or
until their supply has decreased to an
improbable point, when they were
turned off, and others, freshly calved,
substituted, in order to keep up the
required quantity Of milk. Many
COWS procured in this way dry off after
a very brief milking period, and, as
there is wide difference in the selling
value between fresh COWS and dry ones,
the plan is expensive and Improbable
to the dairymen. The fresh cow of a
few months before, bought at the high
price dairy animals in full flow of
milk always command, must go at
any sum obtainable, generally a very
low one, for deals in dry COWS are al
ways favorable to the buyer.
The constitutional habit OF the Jersey
COW to milk in profitable quantities
the year round, together with her in
creased value as a dairy animal, abol
ishes the necessity of this extravagant
course, and will justify the dairymen
in keeping her from year to year, COM
bining with his dairy interests that Of
a breeder. The offspring of his COWS
are readily sold at paying prices if he
does not care to raise them, the new
supply of milk can be utilized in his
business, and, by judicious direction
of his breeding operations, he may
secure an even and continuous supply
from his herd during the entire year.
Jerseys as 4 rule are not large milk
ers, though the breeding tendency of
recent years is to increase the amount,
and there are now many heavy milk
ing COWS Of the breed, but they are
nearly always persistent in their yields
and rarely dry off for more than
few weeks before Calving, and by far
the greater number never dry at all.
This is most valuable feature TO
the dairymen; and in connection with
it, when the increased richness of
milk is considered, the balance OF
profit in favor Of the Jersey as yearly
producer of butter over the short term
thin mixers is very apparent, and con
vinCing to the mind of the practical
dalrymen.
Among the more popular and
valued reforms brought about by the
Jersey Is the mission she fills as the
family COW, the one animal kept to
furnish milk, cream and butter for the
household. This article of houseeold
economy is about as indispensable to
every well-regulated home as the well
OF water at the door, and the kind of
COW employed, in ninety-nine cases
in a hundred, all over the land, in
town, village and country, is a Jersey
COW; and where she has not yet made
her appearance she is being looked
for, and it is safe to predict that when
once established she will stay. Even
men who give special attention to
raising beef cattle, and can see moth
ing Of value in the Jersey except her
adaptation as family COW, seek her
eagerly for this purpose.