SECRETARY'S REPORT. " 67 



Mr. Percival, for the Committee to whom was referred the Fifth 

 Topic, Viz : "How has the introduction of thorough-bred animals 

 affected the milking properties of our cows," submitted the follow- 

 ing Report : 



No data can be obtained by which definite conclusions can be 

 arrived at on this question, and we can only give our opinion in 

 the matter and a few reasons for " the faith that is in us." In our 

 judgment this introduction has produced a very beneficial effect on 

 our dairy stock. We do not deny that there have been and now 

 are many good and some extraordinarily good dairy cows amongst 

 what are termed natives. But that as a class, on the whole, they 

 are as good as the thoroughbreds or grades, we deny. The Here- 

 fords have not seemed to improve the dairy qualities of the animals 

 with which they have been crossed, and we are not aware that any 

 great merit is claimed for them in this respect, and yet we believe 

 their introduction beneficial. The Durhams have been longer in 

 our State, and consequently have been the greater means of 

 improvement than any other breeds introduced. We believe their 

 grades have almost uniformly surpassed the original native stock 

 and often the thoroughbreds in this respect. 



On searching for reports of celebrated cows, we have found them 

 as five to one in favor of the grades of this breed over the native ; 

 and so of the Ayrshire. The Devons, although not having been 

 bred with us with much reference to their dairy properties, have 

 improved upon the natives, if not in quantity, certainly in the qual- 

 ity of their milk. The Jersej's are a new breed with us, but from 

 what we know of them, we have no doubt their introduction has 

 done us good. 



In consultation with Amasa Stetson, Esq., who was for many 

 years largely and successfully engaged in manufacturing butter 

 for the Bangor market, in the town of Stetson, keeping from 

 forty to sixty cows, he informed me that he found grade Durhams 

 the most profitable cows he could keep. This is in accordance 

 with my own experience, having. owned a grade cow, of medium 

 size, that yielded, in twenty-eight days, 5t| lbs. butter — 16| 

 lbs. being her largest yield in one week — on good grass feed alone, 

 which was quite equal to the celebrated Oak's cow, whose largest 

 yield was 19| lbs. in one week, when she was largely fed on meal. 

 One of this cow's progeny, sired by an Ayrshire bull, has proved 

 quite equal to her dam. Any quantity of instances can be given 

 of grade Durhams and Ayrshires of superior milking qualities. 



