CHAPTER IX. 



THE PROFITABLE MANAGEMENT OF LIVE STOCK. 



CONTRIBUTED BY WILLIS P. HAZARD, ESQ., 

 Author of '\The Guernsey and Jersey Cow," "Farmer's Friend and Planter's Guide." 



The Cow. On the Best Breeds— How to CJioose a Good Cow— 

 How to Keep Her in Permanent Profit, 



To properly consider and answer the question, What are the best 

 breeds of cows for butter and milk dairies ? the farmer will not sim- 

 ply declare his preference for the Holstein, the Hereford, the Devon, 

 the Shorthorn or Durham, the Guernsey, the Ayrshire, or, though 

 last and least, still not the least important, the Jersey breed, nor 

 even for the native with its imperfectly traced and mingled ances- 

 try, but will carefully study the merits of each, or at least such as 

 may be within his reach, for the three leading points oi yield, profit 

 and food; or, in other words, the early period at which they are 

 ripe for the butcher, the great amount of food they produce in re- 

 turn for the food they consume, and the large proportion of prime 

 meat which they yield. A proper consideration of these three points 

 will naturally tend to the study of " How to select a good cow," 

 and, having obtained such a one, "How to maintain her in the 

 best condition for profit." 



THE DUTCH, FRIESIAN OR HOLSTEINS. 



The enthusiastic admirers of the Holstein or Dutch breed — and 

 their numbers are rapidly being increased— as well as the best au- 

 thorities upon the subject, all agree that the best strains of milking- 

 qualities are derived from the Holstein breed. That the Danes im- 

 ported into England stock from Denmark, Jutland and Holstein is 

 matter of history. They settled in the county of Durham ; from thence 

 their cattle spread eventually all over England— became known as 

 Shorthorns, and as such have been imported into America, where 

 by great care they have been so much improved as to be exported 

 again to England at fabulous prices, and have there taken some 

 of the most important prizes. But while the attention of the Eng- 

 lish cattle-breeders has been given to improving and perfecting 

 the beef-producing qualities of their Shorthorns, the Dutch dairy- 

 farmers have been improving their dairy stock until they have at- 



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