The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-02-20
RED POLLED CATTLE
The Modern Breed Comparatively New
In This Country
THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
A Jersey Experts Opinion--what Lead
ing Orcas Dairyman and Stock Raiser
Thinks of Them as Milk and Beef
Producers.

The introduction of number of thor
oughbred Red Polled cattle into thus
county was recently noted In the ISL
AMBER and the names of the pur-
chasers given. The dairy industry is
certain to become one of the most i'm.
portant in the county aud farmers gen
orally, whsther now devoting much al
tention to dairying or not, should lie
interested i'm any reliable information
bearing upon the question as to what
breeds of cattle are best adapted to the
needs of the average farmer and most
likely to return the largest margin of
profit in butter and beef NThe Red
Polled is a comparatively new breed in
this country. The report of the bureau
of animal industry, of the agricultural
department., for 1898, says that "Some
Of these hornless cattle, red and of
other colors, were among those brought
to the early English colonies in Ameri-
Ca, and the so-called 'muley' cows
omong our natives are probably de-
scendants, more or less mixed with
other strains, including the Scotch
Gallowaysr of these early arrivals from
Norfolk and Suffolk. But the frat
notable importahon of the breed In its
modern form was made in the year
1878 by Gilbert f, Taber, and this herd,
to which he added in 1875 and 1852,
was maintained for some years in Put
nam county, N. Y. A number of inn
portations to the United States have
since been made, and the state of Ohio
has lately been the center of active in
terest in making these cattle known i'm
this country. The Red Polled cattle
are strong in constitution, hardy, good
grazers, active in movement, and quiet
in disposition. In general appearance
the animals of this breed are OF the
beef type-blooky, round, full, smooth,
and fine-boned. Their aptitude for
making meat seems to be greater than
for making milk, Their special friends
claim them to be good at both, and
press their merits strongly as the gen
eral farm COW.
"As dairy animals the Red Polls
must be placed in the second class with
other breeds which aim to serve the
dual purpose. They appear to give
rather more milk than the Devons
on the average, but not quite SO rich in
quantity. Being comparatively few in
number I'm this country, dairy records
of entire herds in the United States are
lacking, and the available figures
mainly pertain. to records in Great
Britain. Good herds there average
5000 to $500 pounds of milk annually
per cow, and when small and selected
occasionally rising tn 1000 pounds.
One record is claimed of 7,744 pounds
each for twenty-five cows. In the year
1895 twelve herds reported 253 cows
with an average yield of 5,7S6 pounds 4.
Single selected cows give thirty, forty,
and sometimes fifty pounds of milk
day, and hold out well. making yearly
totals of 5000 to 5000 pounds or more
One record is published of ,l2-year-
old COW giving IA, l89 poundsof milk in
year. 1t must be admitted. however,
that the tendency in this, country
among owners OF these cattle is to add
to the size and beauty of contour OF.
their animals and improve. the beef
producing capacity at the expense of
dairy qualities"
In connection with the above the
following communication from one of
the most progressive dairymen Of Orcas
10 Of timely interest:
To the Editor: enolose you an ex-
tract from the Breeders' dazette of Janu-
ary % that 'may be Of some use to the
dairy and cattlemen Of our county. The
Gazette quotes the Jersey Advocate and
Dairymap.and goes on to say that in are
view of the Model Dairy test, written by
Mr.. valancey u. Fuller. it's editor. who
WAS superintendent Of the Jerseys in the
dairy test at the Worlds Columbia Ex-
position, and therefore decidedly preju-
diced in favor Of Jerseys, MrsFuiler SAYS
1.-THE first deduction that would Iiaturally
h. R~>s., <bo - v,~n<3f In, outss~.t