DAIRY. 



DAIRY. 



cows are fed in winter upon clover hay, an 

 allowance of a peck and a half each of succu- 

 lent vegetables, and some Indian or oil-meal 

 cake. The summer feed is not stated, but 

 great advantage has been derived from green 

 Indian corn fodder. Oil-meal cake is not con- 

 sidered of equal advantage with Indian. It is 

 deemed too dear if more than 25 per ton. 

 Carrots are preferred to all other vegetables 

 when the quality of the milk and the condition 

 of the animal are regarded. Since the use of 

 the most powerful hydrostatic presses in ex- 

 tracting the oil from the flax-seed, the cake is 

 by no means so valuable as formerly, and the 

 price should be proportional. 



" In the case of a milk establishment in the 

 vicinity of Salem, on an average of thirty-five 

 cows in milk, the product in one year was 

 17,171 gallons of milk, beer measure ; in an- 

 other year, it was 17,530 gallons. In the first 

 case it would be about 5 quarts to a cow ; in 

 the latter, 5 to a cow per day through the 

 year." 



Several enterprising individuals have im- 

 ported some of the very finest bulls and cows, 

 of the Ayrshire breed, generally reputed the 

 most celebrated dairy stock in England. In 

 regard to the qualities of these and their pro- 

 geny, Mr. Colman remarks that they are said 

 to yield large quantities of milk and produce 

 large amounts of butter and cheese ; besides 

 keeping themselves in good condition, and 

 being easily made ready for the butcher. The 

 cows are eminently beautiful. In size, how- 

 ever, and symmetry, they are decidedly inferior 

 to the improved Durham short-horns ; but 

 there is good reason to think them a hardier 

 race of animals. 



Of the improved Durham short-horn race, 

 we have, Mr. Colman remarks, had some of 

 the best animals ever brought into the United 

 States, and their blood has been considerably 

 diffused throughout the country. In point of 

 size according to their age, in respect to sym- 

 metry and perfection .of form, these animals 

 are, in my opinion, not surpassed, indeed not 

 equalled by any others. "The Herefords," he 

 says, "are extremely beautiful; in neatness 

 and fineness of form perhaps superior to the 

 improved short-horns. The Devons likewise, 

 though considerably smaller in size, yield, in 

 compactness of shape, in quickness of move- 

 ment and muscular strength, and in softness 

 of hair and beauty of colouring, to DO other 

 race known among us. They are the preva- 

 lent race of our country ; and in an extraordi- 

 nary instance, when I had the singular 

 pleasure of seeing three hundred yoke of 

 these cattle that is, all more or less of this 

 breed in one team, in Connecticut, I could 

 not resist the conclusion that a finer team, of 

 the same number of cattle, could not be found 

 in the whole country. Yet I am ready to admit 

 that I have seen some few yokes of oxen of 

 mixed blood, of the improved Durham, as fine 

 in appearance, and in reputation as good ani- 

 mals for work, as any that I have met with ; 

 and some individual animals of the improved ' 

 Durham short-horns, both pure and half-blood, 

 bulls, oxen, and cows, when all points have 

 been considered, have surpassed any thing 

 50 



which I have seen. They have approached as 

 nearly to what I imagine the perfection of 

 form in this race of animals as is to be looked 

 for. With good keeping, they come early to 

 maturity, and attain a large weight. The but- 

 chers, however, whom I have consulted, give 

 it as their opinion that they do not tallow so 

 well, in proportion to their size, as our own 

 smaller cattle. In my observation, no animals 

 degenerate sooner under neglect and poor 

 keeping; and they require extraordinary feed 

 and the most careful attendance to keep up 

 their character and condition. 



" So much sensibility exists in reference to 

 this subject, the dairy properties of the im- 

 proved short-horns, and so much of private 

 interest and speculation is now mingling itself 

 in the judgments which are formed or the 

 opinions given in the case, that, if it is not 

 difficult to speak with calmness and sobriety, 

 it may be unreasonable to expect to be heard 

 with candour and impartiality." 



With this judicious remark, Mr. Colman 

 proceeds to give well authenticated reports 

 made of the milking exploits of the short-horns 

 and their crosses, followed by the most cele- 

 brated performances of native cows, in yield- 

 ing milk, butter, and cheese. 



From the numerous examples recorded of 

 superior dairy qualities exhibited in native 

 cows, we cannot omit the following: 



" The Oakes cow, in Danvers, Mass., produced 

 in 1813, 180 Ibs. of butter; in 1814, 300 Ibs.; 

 in 1815, over 400 Ibs.; in 1816, 4S4 Ibs. 

 During this time, one quart of the milk way 

 reserved daily for family use, and she suckled 

 four calves for four weeks each, in the course 

 of those years. She produced in one week 19 

 Ibs. butter; and an average of more than 16 

 Ibs. of butter per week, for three months in 

 succession. The largest amount of milk given 

 by her in one day, was 44 ^ Ibs. She was 

 allowed 30 to 35 bushels of Indian meal per 

 year, and all her own skimmed milk and most 

 of the buttermilk. At one time, the owner 

 gave her potatoes, which increased her milk, 

 but not her butter. In the autumn, he gave 

 her about six bushels of carrots. 



"A cow owned by Thomas Hodges, in North 

 Adams, produced last year 425 Ibs. of butter; 

 400 Ibs. of this amount were made in nine 

 months. Her feed consisted of one quart of 

 rye-meal, and half a peck of potatoes per day ; 

 and very good pasturing. 



" Cow of Ralph Haskins, Dorchester, Mass., 

 1827. Eighteen quarts per day average 14 

 to 15 quarts. Before grass feed in April, the 

 cream of two days made 2 Ibs. butter, and 

 was made from 2 r ! ff quarts of cream. Two 

 or three minutes in churning. This was the 

 mother of Mr. Jaques's famous Cream-pot 

 breed. 



" Cow of H. G. Newcomb, Greenfield, Mass., 

 1830, from March 27th to May 25th, made 

 100 Ibs. of butter, and reserved 160 quarts 

 milk. In 14 days, made 29 T 3 ff Ibs. butter. 



" Cow of Shelburn, Vt., has yielded 26 quarts, 

 beer measure, in a day ; and at two milkings 

 in 24 hours, produced 3 ibs. 14 oz. of butter. 

 This cow was raised in Vermont. Some per- 

 sons, from her great product, call her English; 



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