NEAT STOCK. 201 



crally the most advantageous course. It must be evident that 

 a higher decree of excellence is attainable in reference to any 



DO w 



particular property, when the attention of the breeder is spe- 

 cially directed to that property, than when the attempt is made 

 to combine in the same animal properties more or less antag- 

 onistic. Why, then, should not every breeder have regard 

 to the main object for which he keeps cattle ? If milk is 

 the object, let him keep the breed which will give the best 

 return in that article, and when he wants cattle for different 

 purposes, let him obtain them from other breeders, who, being 

 differently situated, find their profit in attention to other 

 properties. 



Of the various breeds of cattle which arc particularly adapted 

 to dairy purposes, it is impossible to say which would be the 

 most successful here. None of them have baen tried to an 

 extent that would justify a positive assertion in regard to them. 

 The most, therefore, that will be attempted in this connection, 

 is to notice those breeds or crosses which it seems most prob- 

 able would give satisfactory returns, leaving to actual and 

 thorough trial, the final settlement of the question. Before 

 disposing of this point, however, it may be well to remark, that 

 cows of medium or rather small size, will be found, generally, to 

 give the best returns from our pastures. It is a principle well 

 established in England, where the breeding of cattle and their 

 adaptation to special localities and purposes is better under- 

 stood than in any other part of*the world, that the size of the 

 animal should depend on the soil and climate. Our soil is 

 rather poor and our climate severe, and hence an animal of 

 only medium size, or less, is best suited to our circumstances. 

 On a poor pasture, a large animal may only be able to obtain 

 food enough to supply the natural waste of the system ; but a 

 smaller animal, requiring proportionably less to supply this 

 waste, might lay by a surplus in the shape of fat or milk. 

 Hence, although there may be a large range, a sheep will fatten 

 where a cow will starve, and a small cow will keep in good 

 order, and give milk, where a large one can only hold her own, 

 or perhaps grow poor. 



Our cattle, as well as other domestic animals, have come 

 mostly from the British Islands, and owing to the general 

 superiority of the stock of those islands, it is probable that 



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