Year: 1879

Again.


The Monthly Bulletin has the fol-
lowing:


The subject Of solid color and
black points is one which, in our
opinion, can not be too often writ
ten about. AS our experience and
observation increases, our conviction
grows stronger that in this insane
passion lies the only danger that the
supremacy Of the Jersey cow for the
dairy may not fulfill its present
promises. Among the older breed
ers of the country, those whose
great regulations have become es-
tablished through their success in
the production Of the best class of
dairy animals, the number is ex-
tremely small Of those who pay
marked attention to this question Of
color. Of those who do pay such
attention, it is almost universally
true that they do so confessedly be-
cause they believe that it will in
crease their chances for selling their
surplus animals at q good price. So
far as | know, not single breeder
whose success has been in anyWise
marked, pretends that there is any
economical advantages i'll these fan
cy distinctive marks.


When questioned on the subject,
they at once confess that the fancy,
in their estimation, is q silly one, or
at all events a valueless one, and
that they fill it only because Of the
demand among newcomers for these
qualifications.


We are disposed to reiterate what
we have frequently written, that
this qualification of color and point
is the figment of the Jerseys. Pro-
badly the FOwlers have had more to
do with the forcing of it than any
other influence that has been
brought to bear upon it.


Breeding to color has had an un-
doubted bad effect on the average
quality of the animals of the Island
of Jersey, which bad effect is so full
| ly recognized by the agricultural au-
thOrities Of the Island that they are
working strenuously, and with
| good success, to suppress the fash
ion. One need only examine the
Jersey herds of England and COM
pare them with the herds of Jersey,
to see the harm that has been
wrought there.


The whole effect in the United
States has been less marked only be-
cause so many of our best herds still
feel the strong influence of the early
impOrtatiOns of Taintor and Motley,
which impOrtations were made at a
time when solid color and black
points were unheardof qualifica-
tiOns. More than one of the good
old herds which have had a reputa-
ton for twenty years Or more, has
fallen from its former high position,
simply because of this pernicious
influence. We have one herd in
mind at the moment, which has pos
sessed among its fine animals the
very greatest types of fawn and
white butter cows, yet which has
almost never bred an animal at all
equal to these originals. 1t has so
happened that the bulls from the
best cows have had white markings;
and that the bulls. used have been
from inferior COWS, selected only be-
cause of their color.


1t is curious to read the cores
pOndence accompanying pedigrees
offered for record in the Herd Regis
ter. Letters from well established
breeders who understand their bust
ness, rarely, ifeyer, mention the
color qualification, but fully half OF
| the novices and green beginners ex-
patiate on the superiority of, their
animals in black tongues, blacll-tip-
ped scrotums, black switches, and
the absence of white hair.


The question Of paunch, head
udder, milk-VeinS, and general con.
formation is as entirely disregarded
by this gentry as is the question OF
butter production. Many a man
| who has just begun breeding, writes
to ask where he can buy a bull or a
heifer having these color qualifca-
tions, little stress being laid, as q
rule, on those qualities which those
who understand the true character
istics of the breed, regard as abso-
lutely essential to its value.