St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-05-25
COWS TRAINED
FOR THE TEST
Jerseys at the Worlds Fair Are Ex.
pected to Show That They Are
Superior to All Other Breeds.

The herd of Jersey cows assembled
at the Worlds Fair at st. Louis to rep
resent the Jersey breed in the universal
dairy test has been inspected and has
been pronounced in perfect condition
and ready to start upon their six
months grind on days notice.
w. r. Spann Of the Burr Oak Jersey
farm, Dallas, Tex, was the inspector,
and he was thorough in his work. He
passed week on the Exposition
spent in and around the Jersey cattle
barn, and the condition Of each indi-
vidual of the herd of forty cows was
definitely ascertained.
Never was more intelligent and care
full treatment lavished on animals. No
athlete was ever better trained for
contest requiring the development Of
speed, skill and endurance than has
been this herd of Jerseys. When it is
known that this. herd is to compete
with selected herds of Holsteins, Short
horns, Brown Swiss and Devons, and
the herd making the best score for the
production of butter, milk and cheese
is to establish the standing Of the
cows being in perfect condition may
be understood.
For a solid year the Jerseys have
been in constant training. Twenty
five cows will participate in the con-
test. Cows were selected from the
best herds in the United States.
DR.. J. J. Richardson, president Of
the American Jersey Cattle Club, I'M
der whose auspices this entry is made,
toured Europe and visited the famed
Isle of Jersey, where the breed origi-
mated. He was seeking the best cows,
but returned satisfied that Europe
could show no cows that were better
than those bred in America.
Though only twenty-five cows will
participate in the test, forty cows were
selected They were assembled at
Jerseyville, ILL.,, a year ago. This is
near st. Louis, and the cattle have be-
come acclimated. Last December they
were removed to st. Louis. The cows
are the property of individual members
of the club and are loaned for the term
of the test. G. T. Graves, a breeder
at Maitland, Mo-, was selected as the
superintendent to have charge Of the
cattle, and he has been highly COM
plimented by DR.. Richardson and In
spector Spann for the wonderfully fine
condition in which he has placed the
herd.
A series Of model dairy. barns have
been built for the breeds competing In
the test. The barns are octagonal IN
form, and are so arranged that the
COWS are in the center and wide
promenade permits visitors to pass
around and view the COWS as tney
stand in their stalls.
The milking and feeding are to be
done in plain view Of the public, and
representatives of the various herds
will at all times have access to all the
barns to see that no sharp practices
are INDUCED in.
The test not only consists in show
ing the amount Of butter, milk and
cheese produced, but the cost OF pro-
duction is taken into consideration.
Every ounce of food given each cow is
weighed and carefully recorded. When
the cows are MIXED, the milk is con-
veyed to a model creamery in the Ag-
ricultural building, where it is tested
and made into butter and cheese and
where all records are carefully kept.
The Jersey cattle participated in a
similar test at Chicago during the Co
lumbar Exposition and carried off
| first honors.
Superintendent Graves is sangulne
over the result Of the present test. He
says that the Jerseys have always
demonstrated their superiority over all
| other breeds when placed in. competi-
| ton, and this time they will show to
| better advantage than ever. Not only
| is the Jersey milk richer in butter fat
| than the milk Of any other breed, says
| Mr.. Graves, but it can be produced at
| less cost. The Jersey cows are the
| smallest of the standard breeds, and
| he asserts that they consume less feed.
| They assimilate their food, and 1t is
| converted into milk and butter and Is
not used in building up and sustaining
large carcass.
eve are going to make all other
breeds take to the woods after this
test" said Mr.. Graves. "a few days
ago I was testing some of our Jersey
milk, and my hands were all sticky
and greasy from the enormous amount
| of butter fat the milk contained. Mr.
| Won Heyne, who is in charge Of the
Holsteins, sent over a quantity of his
| milk for me to test. OF course, from a
| commercial standpoint, there was nc
| comparison between the milk, but II
| was a pleasure to test his milk. fol
when I got through there was nc
| grease on my hands. After this
| will have a bucket Of Holstein milk
around handy to wash my hands in
| after testing our own rich Jersey milk. >
The test begins May 16 and contin
ues 100 days.