The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-08
SHORTHORN AS DAIRY COW
BREEDING FOR COMBINED
DAIRY AND BEEF USES
The Shorthorn Originally a Milk
Producing Breed-This Element
Neglected Through Their SUI
periority as "a Reef Type-A Milk
Cultivated Might he Developed.

MS u bech pa 'A'AA>
Heredity In the Breed Which If
Cultivated Might he Developed.
There probibly always will exist contention
over the question as to how farmers may
combine the breeding of cattle for beef and
dairy purposes. The fact ought long ago to
have been established to the satisfaction OF
every one in the business that no breed has
yet been developed that possesses the two os-
sentials in every way satisfactorily. Cows
of ali kinds will give a due proportion o.
milk following the caving period, and 50
will the female of every other species OF
the mammal family. But what the probes
sional dairyman wants is cow that Will not
only give an abundance of milk, but one that
will give milk of superior quality. The
contention to which is the best among the
purely milk breeds must be fought out among
the adherents of the Jerseys, the Holsteins,
the Dutch Bets, the Ayrshires and the like.
The physical construction of the dairy breeds
is wholly different from that of the bsef
broeds and until. by some method of cross
ing which has not yet been successfully de-
ve,oped. entirely breed is produced
1t is a waste of time on the part of farmers
generally to try TO effect the impossible By
indulgence in controversy alone with respect
to the breeds named.
The fact is pretty generally recognized that
the little Jersey yields the highest quality
of milk for purely dairy purposes and that
she has supp.anted the Holstein in popu arity
on this score. but that is not saying that
there are not some excellent Hos:eins. On
the contrary, there many of thsm. But
neither the Jersey nor the Holste:n is pos
sessed of any value in the meat market. The
markings of either is a condemnatory badge
the animal CT
feeders are being selected in the stock yards.
The Jersey steer is always a small affair;
and, while the HCiStein steer is of large
frame he is denied the formation which en-
ab-es him to put on flesh where it is most
needed for the dressed meat market.
Turning, now, fIom the strictly dairy type
of cattle to a consideration of the strictly
beef type and we discover the nearest ap-
preach to value in the Short5orn cow as a
milk producer. In its earlier history the
Shorthorn breed was regarded with much
favor by reason of both the quantity and t
quality of the milk yielded.
Later along. however the Shorthorn's su-
periority as teef producer having been re-
ahzed, the representatives of that breed
We're largely chosen for their value in the
dressed meat market, and their dairy quail
ties were neglected. There appears to be
no doubt, however, that by cultivation, the
Shorthorn could be developed into an ex-
cellent dairy animal, meeting, though, per-
haps in less degree than the Jersey or
the Holstein, the requirements of that in
dustry, but at the same time contributing
sufficient profit by sales in the fat stock
market, to offset any possible deficiency in
the dairying feature.
Unquestionsbly there exists a milk heredity
In the Shorthorn Which might be turned to
good account at the present time by farmers
who are searching for some thing that will
enable them to meet the combined demand
for milk and beef. The Shorthorn COW has a
decided dairy physical foundation, with her
small head and her depth of loin and ca
pacious udder, and by thoroughbred mating
her mae progeny affords the highest type
OF beef animal.
The following from the Wisconsin Agri-
cuiturist, supplies some facts produced by
experiments which are encouraging in con-
nection with this theory The actual test,
is, after all, the surest index to merit The
subject treated of is in tee Shorthorn as
dairy COW:
There were three tests of cows at the agri-
cultural hall the rast winter, one OF which
was confined TO the Jerseys, with their four
teen entries; another to the Shorthorns with
seventeen entries, but only nine competitors;
while the third was for cows OF any other
AyrsLlres, Dutch, and cross-bred cattle The
largest quantity of butter produced in the day
by any animal was given by a cross-bred
COW OF Shorthorn type. This was two pounds
thirteen ard one-half ounces. from forty-s:x
pounds OF milk; the second largest yield was
taken by the cow Gaiety-two pounds eleven
thlee-fourths ounces, from filty-three pounds
OF milk; while the third largest yield was by
a Jersey cow-two pounds ten and one-half
ounces, from forty-seven and one-haif pound;
OF milk The Jersey ratio OF milk to butter
was ll.S the ShOrthOru md no
cross bred cows ratio 1928. This is not
only the best ratio, says an English writer,
in Michigan Farmer, bui one among the
whole OF the cattle, but it is figure which
is equal to the best work of the very best
Jerseys which We remember for years past.
or the nine Shortkorns four produced more
Tran two pounds OF butter indeed, mere than
the other thirty-two competing in the tests
only hve gave over two pounds. This shows
OF what the Shorthorn is capable Az the
same time there are extraordinary disparities.
OF the nine Shorthorns three produced a
pound OF butter from less than two gallons
of milk, five others took from TWENTY-FIVE
pounds to thirty pounds, two and one-half
to three gallons; while one animal actually re-
quired forty-nine and three-fourths pounds
or nearly five gallons to produce the same
method pursued but it is morally Impossible
for the milk of healthy COW TO contain so
SINAI! quantity OF fat There is, however,
COWS Is less churnable than others and con-
sequently it is faulty, less valuable for
DClter-ihaklng purposes. Among the Red
Polls the mix was poor for butter making
fer the lowest quantity required to make a
pound of butter was 1910, while the highest
was 1874. On the other hand the Ayrshires
showed the highest quality, but even the e re-
quired from twenty-five pounds to twenty
eight and one-half pounds. We NAV take il
then, that there first rate Shorthorns. re-
gaIded from the butter making point of view
and inferior Shorthorns, and therefore-as we
have shown in previous years-t is possible
If breeders choose, to produce cow by the
process OF selection which will not only excel
ne fhn- nft ID hut