The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-24
WASHINGTON COUNTY FARM
BUREAU ASSOCIATION.
Report for Week Ending Oct. 81.

Four days of this week were spent a
the national dairy show at Springfield
Mass, hence this weeks report will be
sort of summary of observations mad,
at the show. This is not newspaper re
port of the proceedings, but is intended
to represent as well as possible the les
sons that it was possible to learn about
the different breeds of cattle and the
Judging of them. With a total of l,l0t
animals entered for prizes there were un,
limited chances of studying breed char,
acteristies and individuality. With such
a great number of cattle and so short a
time it seemed best to adopt kind OF
system OF observation which would re-
suit in the most good and the most cor
rect conclusions. The county agent was
pleased to note that number of the
farmers followed some such method AS
this. By watching the judging of the
different classes closely during the day
| time while they were in the ring, mark
ing the winners in the catalogues fur
nished and trying to place the winners
before the Judges placed the ribbons, the
farmer could very soon get pretty good
line on the conformation and character
which the judges were looking for in the
cattle. After the Judging was over for
the day land this seemed the logical
method to pursuel a great many took
their catalogues and went to the barns to
look up the winners in the different
classes in order that they might be looked
over at closer range and the character
noted more particularly.
In the beginning it might be said that
most judges freely admit that the COW
that wins in the show ring may not be
the one that will win at the pail How
ever, it was remarked by a prominent
breeder at one of the breed banquets dur
ing the week that ut is my belief that
it is entirely possible to combine high
production with good conformat ton, quail
ity, beauty of appearance, and I believe
that every breeder of pure bred cattle
will be lending a hand to the general
progress OF our breeding if he will keep
this thing in mind"
As was indicated by the programs. a
day was devoted to the Judging of each
breed This being dairy show only the
five dairy breeds were present. With the
exception of the Brown Swiss the stand
ard of excellence for each breed is very
nearly the same. Talks with the differ
ent Judges revealed the fact that they all
look for about the same conformation
and quality. OF course there are few
which are particular to
each breed, the fine head neck and shout
ders with rather small size goes with the
Jersey, the Guernsey has a rather longer
head and tends to be rather eoarser over
the shoulders than the Jersey. Size is
one OF the main characteristics of the
Holstein. Aside from these few differ
emit characteristics the type of conforma-
tion, quality, etc, along with the udder
formation in particular were points con
sidered by the judges.
1t was noticed that the merits of the
COWS along three lines mainly were the
foundations upon which the judges made
the awards. First Of these was udder
formation. the udder should be large, but
not feshy, and OF good shape, carried
well up behind and outforward, with
we'll placed teats. In one class of Hol
stems one COW was thrown out after be-
ing MIXED in the ring because of the
meaty quality of the udder which is UNI
desirable. Second, the merits of eonfor /
nation seem to be considered The COW |
broad on the loins, deep in the flank, |
.hick through the thurle showing capae
tv and having nice straight back line |
which adds wonderfully to the pleasing
appearance of the animal were the win
1ers. Third. there is the point of con
along which line too much EN-
,ha,sis cannot be placed. Constitution is
measured by heart grit mainly. Heart
,irt means large size directly behind the
Onward legs the ribs should spring very
apidlv at this point, making room for
he large lung capacity and heart action.
The backbone should come well up be-
ween the shoulder blades so a to make
thin wether.
The awards for Jerseys went mainly
o Connecticut. the Ayrshires to Maine,
he Guernseys and Holsteins to the Mid
lie West.
Many farmers ask the question, is
he breeding of these animals by mon
we'd men an advantage to the ordinary
mall farmer Z" At first consideration 1t
you'd seem that the prohibitive high
rice which these men pay among them
elves for the especially desirable cattle
would eliminate the small breeder or
nan who is farming for a living from
btaining animals representing this class
t stock. The writer thinks, however,
hat in the end this circumstance will
rove of great value. These men have
red and improved the stock SO much
lore rapidly than could have been done
therwise. The high producing cows in
II breeds are much more numerous than
hey were 10 years ago and more and
lore they are coming into the possession
the ordinary farmer. The price of a
ell bred bull of any breed is not now
rohibitive to the ordinary farmer and
he value which he represents when used
grade herd is astounding. In con-
ection with this it is well to mention
he tremendous value which the breed
ssociations have BEEN in keeping ad
ance registry records so that the buyer
In know what he is buying when he
pes out to purchase a registered bull.
ur COW testing associations are doing
he same line of work in the grades and
re time is rapidly coming when the first
Iestion the buyer will ask is 'Do you
eep records? How much did this or
lat COW produce last year in butter fat
milk"
Due to the fact that the characteristic
high production can be perpetuatci by
-eeding good animals of individual high
-oduction we are able to keep on in
] 4 ssrs.