172 THE CREAMERY PATRON'S HANDBOOK. 



averaging per month an amount equal to their own weight, for ten or twelve 

 successive months. 



Although the quantity of milk produced is far beyond that from most 

 other breeds, its quality is usually poor, and in some cases has been below 

 the standard fixed by state or municipal laws. The milk is usually lighter 

 colored than that of the Jerseys, even when fairly rich, and those who have 

 been accustomed to milk of a richer appearance sometimes object to buy- 

 ing it on account of the absence of color, which gives an impression of poorer 

 quality. Many individual cows, however, produce milk of excellent qual- 

 ity, and there are records of cows which have yielded as much as 25 pounds 

 of butter in a week. 



THE DEVONS. 



Devons are very popular in many localities, especially where the 

 production of milk and butter is not the sole object for which the ani- 

 mals are kept. The cows are of good size, averaging perhaps 1,000 

 pounds in weight. They are good rangers, quick and active, but very 

 docile, easily handled, and fair but usually not persistent milkers. The 

 milk, however, is unusually rich in quality, the tests reported by Professor 

 Woll averaging 4.6 per cent, of butter fat, while tests of 72 animals reported 

 by the New York Experiment Station averaged 4.15 per cent. Some 

 families of the Devons contain heavy milkers, yields of 5,000 pounds per 

 year being not uncommon. Where it is desired to combine beef production 

 with dairying the Devons are very satisfactory, as the calves grow rapidly 

 and the steers fatten very quickly. It is important to note that Devons 

 have been sucessfully introduced in different parts of the South, and have 

 shown their value in improving the common stock of the country for both 

 milk and meat. The steers make better work oxen than those of any other 

 breed. 



THE SHORTHORNS. 



While the Shorthorns are usually regarded as a beef breed, there 

 are many good milkers among them, and the "milking strains" are 

 favorites where the production of beef is the main object, and at the 

 same time a good yield of milk and butter is desired. Individual cows 

 of this breed have been known to produce 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of 

 milk in a season, and entire herds have averaged from 6,500 to 7,500 pounds. 

 The milk is of good quality and creams easily, though the butter is usually 

 pale in color. At the Columbian Exposition test the Shorthorn milk av- 

 eraged 3.64 per cent, of butter fat, while the report of Prof. Woll gives the 

 average as 3.97 per cent. These cattle are less common in the Gulf States 

 than are those of the other breeds mentioned, and, where found, they have 

 been raised almost exclusively for the production of beef, but it is not difficult 

 to find there individuals and even large herds which are also profitable dairy 



