202 



CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



valuable of our British breeds. The rise in this breed has within the 

 past few years been remarkable. Good average cows will bring from 

 30 to 45, while better-bred farniles and more popular will realize from 

 50 to 100 on an average ; some fashionable tribes ranging from 120 

 to 270. The average of Mr. Adamson's sale in 1881 was as follows: 

 Fifteen cows realized over 47 each ; 10 heifers averaged 47 ; 9 calves 

 over 20 each ; 2 bulls averaged 118. The 36 animals averaged 56 

 11s. each. 



London dairy tests. The result of the London dairy scientific tests 

 may show the qualifications of individual specimens, but. I do not think 

 that a reliable annual average, either of weight of milk, proportion of 

 milk to butter, and milk to cheese, characteristic of any breed is recorded. 

 In fact I do not think such a statement possible to be made, as good 

 soil, climate, and other circumstances make great variations, even with 

 the same animals. However carefully an experiment in s,uch cases is 

 conducted it can only apply individually, and is open to criticism and 

 objections, and is not calculated to satisfactorily solve the question upon 

 reliable information. The nearest approximation to the requirements 

 will be gathered from general milking properties, where minute details 

 which cannot have a general application must be taken into considera- 

 tion. 



In a very extensive milking dairy in Yorkshire, where every depart- 

 ment is conducted on the best and most economical principles that ex- 

 perience can suggest, daily records of productions, &c., show that 2 

 gallons, or 20 pounds of milk per diem, through the year can be ob- 

 tained from the selected dairy Shorthorns, inclusive of a few Ayrshire 

 and Jerseys, and a couple of Galloway and Shorthorn crosses. 



At the dairy show held in London, October 3, 1883, the following is 

 the analyses of milk, with other data, on which the awards of prizes 

 were made, which results only go to prove the foregone conclusion as 

 to the best dairy cattle in the British Isles, the championship falling 

 to the Shorthorns, as did also the second honor : 



' Weights by breeds. In pursuance of the capabilities of the recognized 

 breeds, I will give their live weights when at the highest state of per- 

 fection which skillful treatment can bring them to, and by which it 

 will be seen that the combined properties of milking and grazing do not 

 exist in all renowned breeds, although the winner of the champion 

 dairy prize on the 3d of October is of the same breed as that which 

 carried the first prize in the same hall in December, 1883, as best fat 

 cow in her class, and weighing 2,352 pounds, the heaviest of all female 

 exhibits, and, what is more worthy of remark, another Shorthorn heifer 

 a little over two years old obtained the champion prize against all 

 breeds, weight, or sex ; her live weight being 2,049 pounds. 



