Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-05-23
GENERAL PURPOSE COWS.
MORE USEFUL THAN SPECIAL PURPOSE
STOCK SOMETIMES.

The general purpose COW has beel
since the development of the specia
purpose butter breeds, the Jerseys an,
Guernseys, hs brought them Int,
prominence. The claim has many time
been made by breeders Of these dairy
TYPES Of cattle that there could be nc
compromise between the butter breed,
and the essentially beef breeds, like ths
Shorthorns and Herefords. SO strong
were these claims that several years age
IL looked as II an eastern farmer would
be called a "wayback" who did not keeI
high grade or Thoroughbred Jerseys OF
Guernseys for dairy purposes, especially
for butter. Western competition 10 con-
nection with comparatively cheaper
transportation, has driven eastern farm
| ers out of beef production a. = business,
and they have been obliged to turn their
their attention largely to dairying. But
thousands Of them are 40 situated that
they do not want to make dairying an
exclusive business. Their pastursge,
feed, barns, farm help, and other con-
ditions make II q necessity for them to
keep some sheep or to raise steers that
will sell In the local beef markets, or
some young cows to supply the increas-
ing demsnd of milkmen.
To meet these conditions II has been
necessary TO keep what has been termed
the general purpose COW" An animal OF
good form and medium size that will
produce calf that will be good beef
steer or sslsble heifer, and that will give
at least 5000 pounds of per cent milk
in year, and make good piece OF beef
when her best years Of usefulness have
passed. The special purpose breeder
will call such an animal "scrub cow"
and her owner Ia likely TO be termed \
"scrub farmer"
Sometimes 1t has taken no small
amount Of moral courage for man 10
refuse to invest In fancy bred Jersey
stock, and 10 continue to keep his general
purpose stock. But these farmers have
more courage than few years ago.
People are beginning 70 realize that the
general purpose COW, like the general
purpose horse, has had and will have 4
legitimate place on many farms, and
they are not "scrub stock" either. Ia
many instances these cattle have been
bred with as much care as has been be-
slowed upon the average herd OF Jer-
seys, and with gratifying results TO the
owners. Some farmers prefer the Short
horn cross for this kind Of breeding,
others prefer the solid color Devon type,
while Others are partial to the Holsteins.
At a farmers institute In \ certain town
in this state, where Jersey COWS largely
predominate, 10 was stated during the
discussion that the herd Of cows which
gave the owner the largest returns per
COW from the creamery were grade Hol-
seeins, whose average amount OF butter
fat was less than that OF any other herd.
But no figures were obtsinsble TO show
the relative cost OF the feed Of the differ
ent herds.
The special purpose COW IL for the man
whose sole object In keeping cows Ia TO
make butter, whether IL be from one COW
or from fifty or more, and there are most
excellent reasons Why certain type OF
cows should be kept for this purpose.
Other conditions prevail on other farms,
and the general purpose COW viii meet
these conditions better than any other
animal.
Most critics In this direction make no
between the real general pur-
pose COW that has been carefully bred,
and the hsphsxsrd bred scrub stock that
Ia found in the yards Of too many farm
ers at the present time. There Is, how
ever, a wide distinction between these
two classes OF cattle, and while the scrub
COW has no legitimate place on any farm.
on many farms the general purpose co~
Ills the bill better than any other AMI
msl.-Alphs Messer, Lecturer National
Grange.