CATTLE BREEDING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 13, 12 February 1907, Page 2

CATTLE BREEDING.

— * — THEIR BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. * (From the Agricultural Journal! of Western Australia., SHORTHORNS. The most famous breed of cattle in England, which have received .the longest and closest attention of breeders and improvers, which have commanded prices singly and in herds far above all others, and which have made the most general impression upon the live stock of the country during the I.9th century are the Shorthorns or Durhams. The breed was probably originally formed several centuries ago by crossing the 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 ancestors. Little is known of the breed, except from uncertain authority of tradition down to the early part of the 18th 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, from the River Humber to the Tees and Westward almost to the Irish Sea, has the honour .of being the seat of the most noted examples of improvement in British cattle. The aim of all the improvers of Shorthorns has been to secure early maturity, size, form, and beef-produ-cing qualities. “All is useless 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 milking 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 purpose animals. 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.” In point of size the Shorthorns are probably 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 3;0001b. Mature cows range from 1,200 to 1,6001 b. The colour of the breed has always been red and white, with various blending of these two. Many of 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 favourite colours. The head is comparatively short, broad, finely finished, and attractive, the nose, lips and eyelids flesh-coloured and free from any dark markings, eyes clear, bright yet mild ; ears thin, delicate, and creamy colour inside : horns aro short and blunt and more or less curved downward, of a waxy-yollow throughout, free from blade tips, latterally flattened and wide apart at the base ; the neck is short and firm im the cow, heavy and well crested in the bull. The lines of the body are straight with well filled points, broad lepel back, full loin, heavy thick buttocks, wide apart ; brisket is wide and MI ; legs rather short, close, fine boned, and well proportioned to size of body. In the milking strains the cows are rather more rangy and angular in outline, 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 aro quiet and kihd in disposition. Nearly all show evidence of long continued higli breeding, and this h-as been carried to such an extent in many instances as to become more or less delicacy of constitution. Although now latent in most lines, there seems to be a dairy quality inherent in the brew! which some careful managers are able successfully to develop and propagate. The Shorthorn milk is of good quality, rather 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 40 cows gave averaged 209 lbs. of butter per year. DEVONS. This breed originated from Devonshire, England, and are cultivated for their beautiful form, activity, and their aptitude t© 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 of 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 be wide, the thighs full and long, and close together when viewed from 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 inferior to other breeds. The milk is however, good, and yields more than the average quantity of cream and butter* BULLS. It is always advisable to secure a pure breed animal, and strong constitution should be the main object in selection. He should always be kept in good condition, without bein£ over fat. Pampering is to be avoided. A certain amount of hand feeding is necessary before the season begins, and care should be taken not to overwork.