THE COW TEIBES 81 



Nevertheless, it is possible to lay down certain 

 principles that may be useful in helping one to 

 make a choice of some breed to which to devote 

 one's energies. If a man is producing market milk 

 under the usual commercial conditions and basis of 

 payment, particularly if it be a market which buys 

 on the basis of moderate costs rather than the high 

 quality of the product, then the black-and-white 

 Holstein will probably be best suited for his pur- 

 pose, especially if his farm is fairly level and fertile 

 and his pastures not too scanty. The Holstein 

 cow was developed on the best pastures in the 

 world where "when she wanted a bite of grass, she 

 got a whole mouthful." When it comes to climb- 

 ing steep and rocky hillsides and wandering far 

 to crop a lean herbage, the Holstein is handicapped 

 as compared with the lighter and more active 

 breeds. 



On the other hand, for the economical produc- 

 tion of butter-fat rather than fluid milk or for the 

 supplying of a discriminating market milk trade, 

 one of the Channel Island breeds will probably 

 be a wiser choice. 



The Ayrshire must not be forgotten in this list. 

 In her adaptability she really falls midway be- 

 tween the other two classes. Wherever the Scotch- 

 man has gone into the far comers of the earth, he 

 has taken his cow, and at her best she is worthy of 

 the race that created her. 



