Breeeds of Cattle.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 12 May 1894, Page 3

Breeeds of Cattle.

In this province we have representatives of three distinct breeds, as well as representatives of no breed at all, for judging by some that we see m our local salevards at" times it would be difficult to say what class they belong to; they appear to claim some (but perhaps the smallest possible amount of) relationship to ail the breeds. The throe breeds we are thinking of just njw ai\i the Jerseys, Ayrshires, and Shorthorns, the latter \n some form or other largely predominating. The Jerseys are m some form or other becoming fairly plentiful. The pure Ayrskires ar? scarce here, bui m the neighbouring province they are by far the most numerous breed, and forms one of the strongest and most iuteresting features m cattle at the annual shows. There can be no doubt that the Jersey has been for generations noted for the richness of its milk, and its admirers claim for it the first place as a butter cow. No doubt for the quantity of milk she produces this, is true, but then the quantity is sometimes limited as compared with the other breeds. While we are prepared to givo her all the credit that is due to Lit, there are some things about her that are m our opinion serious drawbacks. Passing over her diminutive size, making her practically valueless for beef after she is past work as a cow, and the comparative worthlessjiess of her. steers, there are one or two othor thiDgs that are against her. First, she is generally considered dainty about her food, and is far from being a good forager. And, secondly, she is far too delicate m her constitution to stand even the rigours of our winter without special care m the matter of food and shelter.

I should consider the Ayrshire cow a very much better and more serviceable animal, considerably larger m size, and frequently giving a very large quantity of milk of a quality {sufficiently good to more than counterbalance the difference m the quality of the Jersey milk. If, through accident or other causes, she seems not profitable for the dairy, she is easily and readily fattened, as are her steers, and the meat is excellent. To er.ov.-n all sh°- has a splendid constitution, and is a good . forager, living and thriving where many others would almost starve. Like all other classes of cattle their particular friends claim for them great things, and reckon that m evory way they will surpass every other breed. In a paper, read before the Oatnaru Farmers' Club some years ago, by Mr. James Gemmell — " The writer said he was of opinion that they were not only hardier than the Shorthorn, bat that they could be kept on poorer and less feed ; that their flesh is also of more value, it being better mixed than the Shorthorn, and the fat not being laid on m lumps. There is nearly as much difference m the flesh of a pure Shorthorn and that of an Ayrshire as there is between a pure Leicester sheep and. that of a half-bred (Merino and Leicester). An Ayrshire will fatten at a strawstack m winter, and can be sent to marketearly m the spring when beef is at its highest prico, whereas . the Shorthorn will have to be kept on till summer, and put into the market when beef is low, and possibly no more would be got for it than for the Ayrshire, that kftinthe spring." Mr Gemmell, of course, wished to be uuderstood. that he referred ;to. well-bred Ayrshires that have substance and quality confined. He said that he bad bred an Ayrshire bull that was killed when it was,thirty

months old, and weighed over 1000 B). Mr Gemmell has made out an excellent case for^thi's particular breed, but whether it is anything like common or only peculiar to his own herd, he does not gay. He certainly has had great success, and has bred some extraordinary milkers. He mentions one that was bred m his district that took the prize at the Victorian National Agricultural Show, with a record of 25 quarts. One of his cows, fed on boiled barley, gave from three teats over eight gallons per day, the calf sucking the fourth, a result he considered was quite equal to ten gallons, or 100 lbs. of milk per day. He mentions several others that have given from eight to nine gallons per day. and speaks of another that gave as much as 20 Bbs. of butter m a week. Truly a marvellous record. To be continued.