66 ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS. 



gives a richer milk than the Ayrshire — while in England the small 

 Alderney cow surpasses any other in that respect.* 



Now will native or imported stock furnish the most profitable cow ? 

 It is difficult to define what a native cow is. Youatt says, "The 

 breeds of cattle as they are now found in Great Britain, are almost 

 as various as the soil of the difierent districts, or the fancies of the 

 breeders." Our cattle, like ourselves, are of British origin. Care- 

 ful observation will detect in the mongrel race, traces of almost all 

 the breeds of Great Britain. It is impossible, therefore, specifically 

 to designate their peculiar characteristics. Probably the prevailing 

 blood in this County is the North Devon or the Sussex, neighboring 

 and kindred breeds of animals. Abused, neglected, the meanest of 

 them raised, I behevc only one systematic attempt has ever been 

 made to improve them. The most indiscriminate crossing is going on 

 at all times, and in all places. Yet the Oakes cow, the Nourse cow, 

 the Haverhill heifer and others, — not only native cows, but bred in 

 our own County, — have not been and cannot be surpassed. Accli- 

 mated, and suited to the soil, this native stock, — a medley of all 

 races, however difficult to be described, — is of far too much value ever 

 to be supplanted by foreign varieties. 



The large size of the improved short horn cow is not the only ob- 

 jection to be brought against her. It is a well known fact, that the 

 original and leading object of the breeders of this stock, was to im- 

 prove the carcass. They succeeded in accomplishing their object, 

 with a rapidity that astonished themselves. But what they gained 

 in one respect, they partially lost in another. This beautiful form, 

 increased size, and an aptitude to fatten which could not be resisted, 

 were incompatible with good milking qualities. The latter were in 

 fact almost destroyed. Many of the breeders were prejudiced 

 against the stock of their neighbors, and bred in and in. This, of 

 necessity, made the defect greater and habitual. Late in the day 

 they discovered their error, and some of them attempted to remedy 

 it. Others preferred beauty of form and good qualities for the 

 butcher, caring not whether these could or could not exist with good 



*A very striking illustration of the difference in the quality of milk g'iven by two 

 cows in the same circumstances, is given by Mr. Malcolm, in his Compendium of Modern 

 Husbandry. He kept an Alderney and a Suffolk cow; the latter the best he ever saw. 

 During seven years,' the milk and butler being kept separate, it was found, year after 

 year, that the value of the Alderney exceeded that of the Suffolk, though the latter gave 

 more than double the quantity of milk at a meal. — Brithh Hvsbandry, vol, ii. p. 397. 



