SWITZERLAND. 305 



as a sort of gluttonous, fat-making machine, more particularly suitable 

 to produce gross meat for the markets at great expenditure for artificial 

 food. 



The above measurements represent the Simmenthaler Spotted cattle. 

 They are a trifle smaller than the Freiburg cattle and are better formed, 

 with deep shoulders, powerful forearm ; long, straight back ; long from 

 shoulder-blade to hip-bone, long from point of hip to root of tail; wide, 

 square buttock, with round, close barrel ; they are usually of white color, 

 with pale red or yellowish spots; white face; nose milk color, with 

 wide, open nostrils. They are highly recommended as milkers. 



The size of these animals varies very much with physical features, the 

 fertility of the country, and the more or less advanced state of its agri- 

 culture. In the high Alp districts, where the farms are small and the 

 food poor in quality and not very plenty in quantity, the cows are smaller 

 and do not sell for more than $50 or $60, while in the richer grass-land 

 districts, where the artificial manuring is largely resorted to, the cattle 

 are worth much more, and bring from $80 to $125, and sometimes more. 

 Their weight is from 1,500 to 2,500 pounds, and some have been known 

 to reach 3,000 pounds, live weight. Their fattening capacity are said 

 to be very great, but they require good food, careful attention in their 

 handling, and perfect cleanliness about their stalls. The Simmenthalers, 

 or, as they are somtirnes called, "piebalds," are considered the best 

 milkers among the Spotted cattle. The better class cows are reckoned 

 and averaged on reliable experiments to give from 11 J to 13J quarts 

 per day, counting three hundred milk days in the year, and the second 

 class from 9 to 11 quarts. At this rate the better class cows would 

 produce on an average 12 quarts per day, or 3,600 quarts in the year, 

 which, at 3 cents per quart (a low average), would make the milk-yield 

 of one cow reach the sum of $108 per annum. 



These cows are of a kind and gentle disposition, and it is claimed 

 they can do a large amount of work without lessening either the quantity 

 or quality of the milk. 



I am informed that while the larger and middle sized Brown Schwytz- 

 ers are perfectly healthy and feed well when grazed on the open mount- 

 ains, yet they do not fatten readily; but when brought down in the lower 

 districts or valleys and grazed and stabled, they not only fatten much 

 faster, but take on more flesh than the animal bred in the low lauds. 

 In consequence of this fact the German breeders prefer for fattening 

 purposes the Swiss cattle bred in the middle mountain regions. When 

 these cattle arrive at maturity and are butchered in their own homes 

 they seldom weigh over 1,000 pounds gross, but when taken down 

 into the lower valleys, or over into Bavaria or Baden or Nassau, they 

 can be made to weigh 1,600 pounds gross at the age of three years. 



OFFSHOOTS OF THE SPOTTED BREED. 



From the original Spotted breed there are several offshoots ; among 

 them are 



(a) The Berneroberlander breed, which is a shorter and lower built 

 animal than those before mentioned. It has powerful shoulders, rather 

 narrow buttocks, and is well adapted for grazing the high mountain 

 sides. 



(b) The Jurrischer, or half-piebalds cattle of the Jura, with less form 

 and size, but very hardy, and easily satisfied with the hard, dry food of 

 the Alps. 



H. Ex. 51 20 



