CATTLE BREEDING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2644, 4 September 1906, Page 7

CATTLE BREEDING.

THEIR BREEDS* AND MANAGEMENT. (From the Agricultural Journal of Western Australia. * SHORTHORNS. The most, famous breed of cat thin England, which have received the longest and closest attention of breeders and improvers, which have commanded prices singly and in herds fur above all others, and which have made the most general impression upon the live stock of the country during the T.Kh century are the Shorthorns or Ihirhams. The breed was probably originally formed several centuries ago by crossing thi- aboriginal British cows with large framed bulls imported from the Continent. Early Shorthorns were good milkers, and it may be presumed that they in part inherited That quality along with the shortness of horn from their continental ancstors. Little is known of-the breed, except from uncertain authority of tradition down to th<' early part of ;he IStli century-, though it is only right, to infer that long before this time great care and even skill had been bestowed upon it. The earliest records show that purity of breed was fully appreciated, and this important fact could not have been universal without previous experience and attention. The great county of York, extending along the Eastward coast of England. frony.Uie Riser llumlx-r to the Tees and-aH§Lwaj:d almost to the Irish Sea, 1 honour of being the seat ufjffleWi ost noted examines of improvement in British cattle. The aim of all the improvers of Shorthorns has been to secure early maturity, size, form, and bees-produ-cing qualities. "All is useh-ss that is not beef," was the motto of an eminent breeder, and he has had many followers. Thomas Bates is the most noted of a few who have seemed most anxious to retain good 1; mi']king capacity. The Shorthorns are a beef breed and have been so for generations. They are classed among the beef breeds in all the great exhibitions, and as a breed do not pretend to be general purposeanimals. But there have always been good dairy cows among them, and in England strains and families have been kept somewhat distinct and are known as "Milking Shorthorns." ]u point of size the Shorthorns are

probalily the largest among pure . breeds of cattle. In their modern form they are not so tall, and have not so large a frame as some of their ancestors, but the lower, blockier. fuller form maintains the maximum weight. Bulls ordinarily weigh a ton and more sometimes running to ,Ooolb. Mature cows range from 1,200 to 1,6001b. The colour of the breed has always- been red and white, with vari- ; ous blending of these two. Many oi the best among the early Shorthorns ! were pure white, but that colour has lost caste, and the roan in England. , and the red in America are the fa- j vourite colours. The head is comparatively short, broad, finely finished, and attractive, the nose. lips and eyelids flesh-coloured and tree Irom j any dark markings, ejes clear, bright yet mild : ears thin, delicate, and creamy colour inside ; horns are short and blunt and more or less curved downward, of a waxy-yellow throughout, free from black tips, latterally flattened and wide apart at the base : the neck is short and firm in Ihe cow, heav\ and well 1 crested in The lines oi the body are straight with well filled points, broad lepel back, full loin, heavy thick buttocks, wide apart : ! brisket is wide and full : legs rather j short, close, fine boned, and well pro- j portioned to si/e of bod\ . In the j milking strains the cows are rather j more rangy and angular in outlin". with large hairy udders, and good] sized teats, well placed, the skin ; over the whole body is flesh-coloured* soft and oily to touch and covered : with fine short hair. The animals are quirt and kind in disposition. Nearly all show evidence of long con- j tinned high ling, and this has' been carried to such an extent in;

many instances as to become more or less delicacy of constitution. Although now Intent in most lines, there seems to lie a dairy quality inherent in the hreerl which some careful managers are able successlully to develop and propagate. The Shorthorn milk is of pood qualitv, rathei above the average: the fat globules are of medium and fairly uniform size, so that cream separates easily. It is. however, rather pale in colour. Herds of 10 cows gave averaged 209 lbs. of butter per year. DEVON'S. This breed originated from Devonshire. Kngland. and are cultivated for their beaut iml lorm. activity, and their aptitude to fatten, which is unrivalled. These are known by their small head, yellow muzzle and curly hair : the thick neck and welldeveloped chest. A great essential in beef animals being the depth ol girth, which in this class is very well developed. The barrel is also deep and well rounded, being well ribbed upleaving every little space between the hips and ribs , this being regarded as a healthy constitutional sign and a propensity to fatten The loins should lie wide, the thighs full and long, and close together when viewed irom behind : legs short and small : hide thin and mellow, but not too loose, and particularly well covered with fine soft hair. The favourite colour is a blood red. They are a hardy class of animal with an aptitude for putting on condition ; as dairy cattle arc interior to other breeds. The milk is however, good, and yields more than the average quantity of cream and butter. HULLS. it is alwavs advisable to secure a pure breed animal, and strong constitution should I"' the main object in selection. He should always be kept in good condition, without being over fat. Pampering is to be avoided. A certain amount of hand feeding is necessarv belore the seiisou begins, and care should be taken not Id overwork.