DAIRY CATTLE.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 19 May 1894, Page 3

DAIRY CATTLE.

BY W. WATSON. JUNE.

Shorthorns.

With regard to cattle of the Thorthorn breed there is an idea abroad which is rather prevalent that Shorthorn cows are little or no good for dairy purposes. The idea is not a correct one, and where it true the Shorthorn breeders are almost entirely responsible for it. They have not m every instance taken care to. breed their cattle with the dairy m. prospect, and the result is that to a very great extent they have produced an animal that would lay on flesh very rapidly, instead of changing the food consumed into milk and butter. This is not the fault of the breed; but of the breeders. Originally these cattle were generally remarkable for the quantity and quality of their milk. In speaking of Shorthorns, we ■: do-? not necessarily. - mean highly bred cattle, i.e., cattle bred either from " in-and-in-bred " sires and dauis of one strain or family, or cattle bred from one strain Or family, and, without being "in-and-in-bred," that are termed line-bred Shorthorns.

We refer rather to cattle that are good m themselves, either butcher's - cattle o,r good dairy cattle, or better butchers' and dairy cattle combined than the cattle of any other known breed. There has been a long and Keen contest betwejen the Shorthorns and other breeds of cattle for the first place, and the Shorthorns have won. At the Koyal Show m England they often number more than all bther breeds combined, and m most of the country shows arid fair's it is ; the i same, which goes to prove the assertion that for general pursoses they are the best. No breed of cattle has been so extensively used for crossing other breeds -as they, and they have left their impression everywhere .for good. They ( the pure breed) are v a testimony to the skill and foresight of men m the way of improving cattle that were originally possessed of some good qualities, but also of some defects. The Collings Brothers have a permanent monument of their skill and judgment m the improved Shorthorn. They reduced the size somewhat, but increased their tendency to fatten ; increased the quantity and quality of the milk produced, and had. all the subsequent breeders had the same foresight and selected their sires with a view to both the dairy and beef" there would not have been the same cause for complaint about their lack of milking "qualities. Notwithstanding the that there are many failures m tnjs/ respect, they can still hold their bwn where they have been bred and fed for this purpose. They are hardy m their constitutions, and are good at< looking out for themselves, and if they, get anything like a chance they will repay amply for all the care and labour bestowed upon them. One noticable feature about "them is they will increase m ttoß quality as well as the quantity of their milk from two years until they " =are full grown or six or seven years old. . *„-, : Holstein Cattle. Another breed of dairy cattle has been introduced into New Zealand within the last few years, and they are spreading, and the strain is being noticed m some dairy herds. They were introduced, I believe", by Mr Grigg of Longbeach. They are very highly spoken of for general purpose?, of large . fame, good at r laying on flesh, excellent at the milking pail, and produce a fair amount of butter.

Caution.— The travelling draperj and merchandise stock company are on the war path, and 'mil m the course at its travels visit Oxford with tie usua flourish pf trumpets "without reserve, -'(Bvery-'ibJU^-i4aßt^ t^*-i^6.- l ;'^c i M By a curious coincidence tibiese commercial philanthropists select ihis season of tb6 year, just after harvest, for visiting this 'di^rici^whenthe farmers wires may ready moneys at tlnebr -cl^popal. &1J? Hope thai the farmers Iwijes wiUj not h| victimized to the ttsoj^th^^rtvfvMis occasion, when they weire lead to -|>tircfe»Be goods at a very high price that turoei out valueless rubbish. . '.. -. 7 >