The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-09-01

Department Of the Farm-A Few
Hints ~ to the Care Of Live Stock
and Poultry
Origin and History.-The island OF
Guernsey is the second in size OF the
Channel Islands, and lies farthest to
the west in this group. It is triangu-
lar in shape, being nine miles long and
about four in greatest width, with
rough, rocky coasts, containing $4,000
acres, and has a population of $4,000,
half of whom live in the principal
town, st. Peters. Market gardening is
the chief occupation of the country
people. and dairy cattle form a second
airy interest. There are only about
5000, cattle owned upon the island. By
a long-continued policy of excluding
all live cattle from without It's limits,
the stock OF the island has been built
up into a distinct breed. The origin
and history of Guernsey and Jersey
cattle are practically the same, but in
the development Of the former more
of the characteristics Of the parent
stock of Normandy, France, have been
retained. At present, however, Guern-
seys can be better compared with Jer-
seys than with any other cattle. It is
difficult to say when Guernsey cattle
began to come to the United States,
but a few are known to have been
owned near Philadelphia prior to 1850.
In America, as in England, all Chan
mel Island cattle imported were long
called "Alderneys," irrespective of the
island from which they came. Pure
as they were at home, each within its
OWE limits, the distinction was not
properly preserved after they reached
this country. But between 1870 and
1875 the Guernsey became recognized
here as a breed, and for twenty years
importations have been made nearly
every year. The breed has steadily in
creased in numbers and as steadily has
gained in favor wherever introduced.
Characteristics.-Guernseys + q
size larger than Jerseys. stronger
,boned, and . little coarser in appear
zance. They are claimed to be harder
and larger mixers, but both these
points are stoutly disputed. They are
generally very handsome and attrac-
tive COWS. The head Of the Guernsey
is rather long, the neck slender, the
body large. deep and rangy, the rump
prominent, the tanks thin, thighs in
curved, and twist open and roomy. AL
together the animal is at once recog-
nized as b~usinesslike and belonging to
the pronounced dairy type. They are
light in color, yellow and orange pre-
dominating, with considerable white,
usually in large patches on the body
and IN the legs. Darker shades, ap-
preaching brown, are found upon some
cows and are quite common on bulls.
The muzzles r almost invariably bun
or flesh-colored, surrounded by q hllet
Of light hair. Occasionally q black
nose is found. showing the influence
Of some distant ancestor from Brit
tany. The horns are small. curved.
hne, thin-shelled, and waxy in appear
ance, often showing a deep. rich yell
low for a third Of their length from
the base. A characteristic of this
breed is q very generous secretion Of
yellow coloring matter, which pertains
to the whole skin. but is seen espe-
cially where the hair is white, in the
ears. around the eyes, and about the
udder. This gives a richness" to the
animal which is very noticeable and
causes the butter produced to be Of a
higher color at all seasons Of the year
than that Of any other breed. The
udder and teats are large and admir-
ably shaped and placed, in selected
specimens, but those and other dairy
markings do not, throughout the
breed, appear to be as fixed as in the
case of Jerseys, which have been sub
jected to a longer course Of careful
breeding. The Guernsey possesses q
nervous temperament. and yet the
cows are extremely quiet and gentle
when properly handled, and less trou-
BILE is reported in the management of
aged bulls than with Jerseys Of like
age.
Milk and butter records.-The cows
Of this breed produce liberal quantities
of milk, and 1t is of uncommon rich
ness in butter fat and in natural color.
They are to be especially recommend
ed for butter cows. as we'll as for mar
ket milk where quality secures a rel
atively high price, and they are noted
for rich production combined with es-
pecial economy in feeding. They pos
sess great power of assimilating food
and converting it into milk, yet are
delicate feeders rather than gross.
and will not generally bear much fore
ing. The grades, offspring of a Guern-
sey bull and well-selected cows Of no
particular breeding, usually make very
satisfactory dairy stock. Guernsey
COWS average 1000 pounds in weight,
or q little more. and thus. being heav-
Ter than Jerseys. they are expected to
give more. milk.-Farmers' Bulletin
LOG. Department Of Agriculture.
Goats - Brush Eaters
Col. William I. Black, in his COM
prehensive treatise on "The Angora
Goat and Mohair Industry Of the Unit
ed States" says: "The brush ques-
ton is a most serious M in a great
many of our states. AS long as land
can be kept under cultivation the
brush can be kept down; but, when