CATTLE. 13 



beef; hence it has brought about the result, that while the Short-Horns were formerly known 

 to be fine milkers, they have greatly deteriorated in this respect, and those types of the breed 

 that furnish the best specimens for beef production are generally very inferior milkers. 

 It now remains for the breeder to restore the milking qualities of this valuable breed, and 

 at the same time to endeavor to do this without deteriorating their present standard in beef 

 production, which many breeders are attempting to do. That this may be done by judicious 

 management and careful selection in breeding is doubted by many, since the two qualities 

 are to a certain extent antagonistic, but is believed practicable by some of our most enter- 

 prising and successful breeders. It is a well known fact that the dairies of London were 

 formerly stocked principally with Short-Horns and Yorkshire breeds or their grades, which, 

 after furnishing a profitable supply of milk for some time were easily and readily fattened 

 for beef. As regards the former general excellence of this breed for the production of both 

 milk and beef, we cite the noted English authority, Youatt, who says: 



&quot; The number of cows kept for supplying the metropolis and its environs with milk is 

 12,000. They are, with very few exceptions, of the Short-Horn breed the Holderness and 

 Yorkshire cow and almost invariably with a cross of the improved Durham blood. The 

 universal preference given to this breed by such a body of men, differing materially on 

 many branches of the treatment of cattle, is perfectly satisfactory as to their value, and that 

 on three distinct points. First, as to the quantity of milk. This we need not press, for the 

 enemies of the Short-Horns have never contested this point. There is no cow which pays 

 so well for what she consumes, in the quantity of milk that she returns. This, however, is 

 not all, though it may be the principal thing which enters into the calculation of the 

 metropolitan dairymen. * * The proprietor of the large dairy is also a dealer in cream, 

 to a considerable extent, among these people; he is also a great manufacturer of butter for 

 he must have milk enough to answer every demand, and that demand is exceedingly 

 fluctuating; then it is necessary that the quality of the milk be good, in order that he may 

 turn the overplus to profitable account in the form of cream and butter. The employment 

 of the Short-Horn cow in all the dairies is convincing proof that her milk is not so poor as 

 some have described it to be. It is the practice in most of the dairies to fatten a cow as 

 soon as her milk becomes less than four quarts a day. They are rarely suffered to breed 

 while in the dairyman s possession. The fact of their being so often changed is proof that 

 while the cow gives a remunerating quantity of milk for a certain time, she is rapidly and 

 cheaply fattened for the butcher as soon as her milk is dry. Were much time or money 

 employed in preparing her for market, this system would not answer, and would not be so 

 universally adopted. Fattening and milking properties can therefore combine in the same 

 animal, and they do so here.&quot; 



The very fact of this breed having been valuable milkers in the past, and that some 

 families of it are at present, proves that the race can be brought to that standard again, 

 when the proper means are resorted to to attain such a result. 



Short-Horns as Working Oxen. Although the pure-bred Short-Horns are used 

 for farm work and draft in some sections,. yet their size, weight, aptitude to fatten, and slow 

 movements are objections to their general recommendation for this purpose, in those 

 sections where ox teams are employed; and for these reasons they are not as desirable for 

 this use, as the more active Herefords and Devons, or crosses with these or the native stock, 

 either of which make excellent workers. 



