The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-08-10


average farmer who grows cattle than
the little consideration that il given
to adaptation: with the many, the
paramount question is, which is the
best breed? 1t ought to be, which 10
the best breed for my conditions? IL
may be possible for q man to change
or modify adaptation in breed, but
to do that will take generations of
careful breeding and feeding. But
why should the energies of life time
be thus expended on the notifications
of breed, when one of the many
breeds now in this country will ex-
actly meet the needs of the farmer?
Life 10 too precious to waste it thus.
Wherever the land is level in char
acter, the soil rich and fodder and
grain production il abundant, the
large breeds of cattle can be MAIN
tanned under such conditions with the
highest profit. 1t may not be SO easy
to verify such an assumption by the
facts of actual demonstration. That
large breeds, however, are usually
kept under such conditions is at least
a presumptivc proof that the farmers
have found them more profitable than
the small breeds. It is also highly
probable that large animals, under
the conditions named, can be relative
" more cheaply maintained than
ANAL ones. For instance, suppose one
cattle beast large in size produces as
much as two small ones of an equal
combined weight, it will be main
tanned more cheaply than, the two
small animals, especially in cold cli-
mate, since more food will be con-
sumed in driving the machinery of
two living organizations than in driv-
ing the machinery of one with equal
capacity to the two. A large breed
win be the best, therefore, for such
conditions, other things being equal,
whether the farmer seeks meat, milk
or the two combined.
Suppose, however, that the farm is
mainly composed of rugged land, SIM
liar to that which forms the bluffs
along the Mississippi, and that the
soil is light. The production on such
land will not be nearly SO abundant
a. on the level and high prairie farm.
1t would be a mistake to introduce a
ponderous breed on such a farm. A
light breed, such as the Devon, for in
stance, could readily climb the bluffs
and gather food, whereas a ponder
GUS breed, like the Shorthorn, could
succeed only in carrying their heavy
bodies over such land by labored eff
fort; while, therefore, the former. a
small breed, would almost certainly
succeed well under such conditions.
the large breed would not prove a
success.
Then again, there are farms that
are intermediate in character. They
have pastured lands upon them that
are undulating and in some instances
billy. They also have upon them lev
FL stretches, where plentiful food sup
plies may be grown with which to
sustain them in winter. Here. then.
ARE conditions suited to the MAIN
fenance of the intermediate breeds.
as for instance, the Red Polls or the
Ayrshires.
where protection can not be fur
nished, the natural hardihood of the
animal is an important factor. Bdx
under farm conditions. it is not so
important relatively, since that meas
IRE OF protection can usually be fur
a1shed, suited to the needs of the
breed. IL is not to be understood,
however, that hardihood in breeds,
wen on the arabic farm. is not an inn
oortant consideration.-Pro Thos.
shaw, in Texas Farm and Ranch.