THE DAIRY SHORTHORNS.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 75, 9 January 1912, Page 4

THE DAIRY SHORTHORNS.

VIEWS OF AN ENGLISH BREEDER

A well-known'’ English exhibitor of Shorthorns, Mr J. L. Shirley, expresses the following views on the Shorthorn dairy cow “ She should not be an overgrown animal. As a rule, a very large cow does not give more milk than one of medium size, and the larger the animal the more food she requires. If the same quantity of milk is given by the cow of medium size, it must therefore be an economy to have her. The dairy cow ought to have a good depth of body, stand on short legs, possess a hidf with a nice touch—the texture of the udder as well as the skin of the cow should be thin—and, lastly, the cow should retain the Shorthorn character, as you have your steer calves that you breed fronrher to consider. With respect' to bulls, in case where a dairy pedigree hull cannot be bought, there is a danger in purchasing one promiscuouslv either in the market or at the Shorthorn sale. As to the first, you run a risk of buying an animal that has last all the characteristics of a Shorthorn ; and as to the second-, you may buy one with all the appearance of a Shorhorn and none of the milking qualities. It is of the utmost importance that a purchaser should know all about the herd to which the bull belongs and take , care that it is one in which a dairy Shorthorn sire is used, and the herd noted for heavy milk yields.” Mr Shirley believes that dairy cattle will be more and more sought, and said he would like to" impress upon dairy farmers one thing. That was keeping milk records.