The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-07-27
The Generally rpose Cow.

The time may come when every
where there will be pure-bred cattle.
and nothing else, but that time is GER
talnly now long way off As the
case ut present stands, the great bulk
OF our cattle is very common and
scrubby indeed, and the best that can
be done with these is to gradually and
as fast as practicable grade them up
improve them both by selections and
crosses on pure-bred males.
An important problem is up for solu-
ton at the very start in this under
taking, and that is as to the direction
that should be taken in this matter
whether, in other words, we should 90
in the milk and butter or in the beef
direction.
The strictly beef breeds are usually
poor when at their best when it comes
to the milk pail; the little Jersey is a
type OF the very poor when it comes
to being put on the butchers block.
80 much Is this thought to be the fact
by men whose main business is raising
choice beef cattle that they regard the
general introduction of jersey blood
as serious blow to the best for their
| industry. Thus when jersey cattle
first began to be brought to Kentucky
at all extensively this was the attitude.
and they We're much opposed and
sneered at, but in spite of that they
have become established and repre-
sentatively fill a great place in our
agricultural and best food economy.
If fine cream and butter meet the
want, then to the little Jersey we must
go as the basis of operations best cal
culated to secure our general purpose
COW, making up for the loss on beef
account at the end of it all by gains
Otherwise made on the way to that
end
On many farms, on most farms. in
deed, the milk and butter stand related
to direct home supplies only, and when
that is the case then the trend shonld
clearly be in the direction of beef
This is mostly as we find it and mostly
IN the common interestas it should be.
Beyond any doubt the nearest ap-
proach to the ideal in this respect is the
Shorthorn or Durham breed of cattle
more gentle and kindly than they The
beef they make ranks with the best, as
evidenced by show rings results secured
under this crucial test. In like man
ner have they earned rank with the best
when 1T comes to the production of
first-class milk and butter. To-day in
England there are dairymen who.
though compelled to make every edge
cut to make their business pay, W il
have nothing but Shorthorns. And it
has long been so there.
e /
to decline as mixers some time before
they are really what should be regarded
as old; and when they do so, they are
in good form for fattening aud making
into excellent beef, if of the beef breeds.
1t is far different if they are of other
than the beef breeds Then the males
of the beef breed, when not wanted
for purposes of increase, are made into
steers, that yield the choicest beef of
the markets of the world. Millions of
dollars worth of just such beef leave
the bluegrass pastures of Kentucky an
nually, going to the great centers of
civilization. and not little of it in the
live state across the sea. In imauina-
tion-let us compare n herd of such
steers with like herd made from the
best of the strictly cream and butter
I breeds
There is, of course, room for all and
n place for all; only it is important to
remember, in dealing with our general
purpose COW, that if we would get
there oil right, we should start right.
adapting the means to the ends, All
not putting butter-aud- cream cow
where n beef one will pay far better.
or vice versa.
Circumstances should o. so be taken
into account in considering this matter
thoroughly. The heavier and beef
breeds Of cattle need fare and n pas-
turage that is generous according TO
their size Whilst the case for the
cream and butter breed is not 20 be
stated in terms the opposite Of this
the rule that something never comes
from nothing always obtaining is
the fact that the smaller kinds often
prosper anil greatly strengthen family
resources where the larger would inc
vitality stEve. Home and Farm.
Two Ohio farmers who live couple
Of miles apart have utilized wire