THE JERSEY-SHORTHORN

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13170, 7 October 1914, Page 6

THE JERSEY-SHORTHORN

l-'OIt DAIKY PURPOSES. A writer in,the Mark Lane Kxprosa Agricultural .loiiriiat stioJifrlyadvocate tin! -crossing '.of the yiioithorii with the Jersey, us ho considers -it. one of the ■ most generally Useful'class ; of tattle -for tlii! dairyman, especially/occupiers of small farms, where,tho dairy, in one lili'usi! or another, is :i retail business, of primary importance. The prcsuinption is that he had in view'what is called a ilmil .purpose breed. "History, however, has shown that this cross has not been such a success ns would warrant to givo'it a further trial. Heading through the ideas the writer puts in favour of his contention, it is evident that lie lias not studied ,tlie history of the two breeds sufficiently. The milking Shorthorn, as we know this breed in Australia, is still an midefinable proposition in England, mid it is only within the last few years that efforts have been made to bring out tho best qualities '('if that' animal from' a dairying proposition. In tho article, "Beel' versus Butter," Mr M. A, O't'nllaghan's new book, "Dairying in Australia," speaks of tho mistakes made by dairy farmers in breeding 'for a valuable eall',|iio mailer whether it was a male ur female, ,by crossing tin- .Icrsey with the Shorthorn type. They found that the Shorthorn history is, without doubt, an interesting one, but it only affects lliis article in regard to its milking qualities. Here agui.. we.cannot do better than quote some of tho remark's in Mr O'Callaghan's book on this lircetl:.. "'While I must confess the Shorthorn breed as represented by animals hi (-'dates' ' Nerd Book," possess some excellent specimens of dairy cows, <)». Hie other Land, when we ask these first-class individuals to their type they fail 100 frequently, My this 1 mean that if we mate two'good ''deep milking Jiiirobred Shorthorn cows'with a bull, descended on both sides from (Juntos's 'Herd Book' .stock,, w.n .will''most assuredly get beef rather than milk in at least'ill) per cent, of the progeny." Here we see the'danger of n ShorthornJersey or Jersey-Shorthorn cross where the history of the larger.animal is not known. England has always been more of a liccf-producing than a dairying country; and it is doubtful, if English fanners will- ever endeavour to breed specialised dairy Shorthorns like the lllnwarrn. Tho English Shorthorn as he first appeared was,, modelled by Robert Bakewell towards the last half of-the.eighteenth century from the old Long-Horn type, il uiostungainly animal. But Bakowell wis V wonder in animal tn,|iisforination,'ns,we hayo seen in the Lincoln •and English.Leicester sheep. ••; ■'•.■.!■■■ - - • •'■-''

The best'' historian' oil, tW'Jersey is Mr ~!'. Tli.priitoni 'and ..regarding,their origin, heat once admits his inability to tlace it beyond'a doubtful existence on. the cost of 'France. ' What, it is today .has.been evolved.by careful selection, find by steady improvement of its milk-yielding qualities? '. Mr 'O.'Callagliaii tells us that, "even,injtlic early days of Jersey improvement, tlio cattle breeders of Jersey rectfgniscd the Guciioii system of judging milch cows by (heir escutcheon', and in ')sU a prize was offered for the: cow;with .Hie'; best escutcheon." '■■ y*Jie Jersey' cow ns' a butter, producer stands unique' in' the world, a'nil is hot even" beaten by,' the best Danish or Dntc)i v or, liy the,Guenixey, her immediate neighbour.' BeJias Blio\vn that she can tlir'iVe equally;; well on the coast as inland, ,aujt as regards hiiiitbincncsH of frame, 1 there is no ; other to equal her. The; is/a«'free from bovine tiibcrciilosis as the Giierii. soy, anil in every, respect .-lie is a poor man's dairy cow.- 'Thus what bciie/it ■will the farmer gaihiby, crossing hor. with it Shorthorn, or vice; versa J -Jf giade,cowsar6songhj;for, then there arts-no hotter proved' crosses'tlmh'tdW Shorthorn, ami' Guernsey Shorthorn and Ayrshi.re.~Farmer. and : Grazier, ' .