234 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



June, 1910 



Short Horned Cattle 



By Theodore Langdon Van Noiden 



Shorthorns at Naarden Farm, South Salem, N. \. 



T HAS for years been stated that there are 

 only two kinds of breeds of cattle — the 

 dairy breeds and the beef breeds. It has 

 been claimed that no cow exists which 

 satisfactorily combines qualities of the two 

 classes. The milking Shorthorns, how- 

 ever, disprove this statement. They serve 

 the dairy well, and the bull calves make the best of veal. 

 It cannot be claimed that the Shorthorn cow gives as 

 much milk as a Holstein, or milk so rich as a Jersey. She 

 does, however, give much richer milk than the Holstein, 

 and more milk than the Jersey. A year's yield of butter 

 would, therefore, compare well with that obtained from a 

 Jersey, or, indeed, surpass it. For instance: 



A Shorthorn herd should average 6,000 pounds of milk 

 annually at 4 per cent, butter fat. 



A Jersey herd should average 5,000 pounds of milk an- 

 nually at ^Yz per cent, butter fat. 



A Holstein herd should average 7,000 pounds of milk 

 annually at 3 per cent, butter fat. 



Making the calculation, it becomes apparent that 

 the Shorthorn herd gives as much butter fat, or more 

 than the Jersey herd, 

 that my best Short- 

 horn cows give over 

 7,000 pounds an- 

 nually. 



As to the cost of 

 keeping, it is true 

 that the Shorthorns 

 are much larger 

 than Jerseys, and if 

 their appetites were 

 commensurate with 

 size, the question of 

 feeding might deter 

 breeders. But they 

 do not eat as much, 

 proportionately, as 

 do Jerseys, with the 

 result that their cost 

 is just about the 

 same. 



Hardiness and 

 gentleness are both 

 characteristics o f 

 the Shorthorn. 

 They are not ner- 

 vous, and the cow's 



best out-of-doors for the greater part of the year. In the 

 severest weather they are easily housed, and thus another 

 source of expense is eliminated. On the other hand, if the 

 barn be well aired, the Shorthorn will stand the confine- 

 ment well, with a few hours' exercise in a small paddock. 



So much for the Shorthorn's dairy recommendations. 

 The animal's value, however, does not stop there. The 

 Shorthorn has the large frame of the purely beef breed, 

 and when fattened for beef quickly produces the great 

 carcass wanted by the butcher. Shorthorns are most eco- 

 nomical feeders, too, and make use of every ounce of food. 

 The calves are large, and bull calves make a rapid growth, 

 as well as having a ready sale. The standard weight for 

 bulls is 1,900 to 2,300 pounds, and for cows 1,200 to 

 1,600 pounds. 



This question of the value of Shorthorns to the butcher 

 is one of growing importance. It is many years since the 

 great herds of the West deprived the eastern beef-raiser 

 of the possibility of profit; but the pendulum is beginning 

 to swing back. There is every prospect that the East will 

 soon be again raising beef with profit. High authorities, 

 and, for that matter, every-day experience, show that the 

 And I may add, incidentally. East will soon have to provide for itself, at least in part. 



The eastern far- 

 mer generally has a 

 small herd. H e 

 wants cows that 

 give a large amount 

 of good milk, and 

 which can be sold. 

 He wants milk rich 

 enough t o enable 

 him to make his 

 own butter and also 

 sell butter when he 

 has milk to spare, 

 and yet he wants 

 cows which are 

 large enough, when 

 old, or if they meet 

 with accidents, to be 

 sold to the butcher. 

 He also wants his 

 bull calves of suffi- 

 cient size to be sold 

 for veal. 



Again, the far- 

 mer wants cows 

 that are strong and 



Roan Duke, at the head of Naarden Farm herd 



flow of milk is less often interrupted than is the case with hardy, good foragers upon our rough pastures, and able to 



more restive breeds. No milch cow should be too much stand our severe winters with the least danger of tubercu- 



exposed to cold weather, if the best results are to be ex- losis. All these requirements are met by the Shorthorns, 



pected, but the Shorthorns come of a sturdy stock, and do Certainly the breed offers a solution of various difficulties. 



