304 



The Dairy Shorthorn. 



[July, 



also afforded a valuable stimulus to the breeding of well- 

 fieshed bulls from milk-recorded cows, with the result that the 

 importance of the dual utility animal, and the extent to which 

 the Dairy Shorthorn answers the need for it were never more 

 deeply appreciated. It may be of interest to point to the 

 growth of the Dairy Shorthorn Association. In 1914 it com- 

 prised 214 members, with 55 herds and BB7 milk records. In 

 1920 the membership had risen to 631, the herds to 332, and 

 the milk records to 1,194. In December, 1918, the Associa- 

 tion published the first volume of the Kegister of Non-pedigree 

 Shorthorn Dairy Cows, in which close upon a thousand 

 approved milking Shorthorns were enrolled as foundation cows. 

 The Kegister and the milk recording scheme have naturally 

 led to the improvement of prices for non-pedigree cattle with 

 milk records, and herds have been dispersed at an average 

 of from £107 to £114 per head, with individual prices up to 

 270 guineas. 



A word of warning may not be out of place in view of the 

 rapid extension of the milk recording system. Here and there 

 a tendency may be observed towards pushing milk production 

 to excess. What is needed most of all is a gradual raising 

 of the standard of breeding and management, and an improve- 

 ment in the methods of feeding, so as to enable the production 

 of the greatest volume of milk consistent with the lowest 

 economic cost, and without placing an undue strain on the 

 cow. At the recent sales of recorded cattle there have been 

 signs that these points are realised by a very large body of 

 farmers and breeders, for there has been a steady demand 

 for the right sort of cow. It appears to be recognised by a 

 large number of farmers that the cow as a mere milking machine 

 is a risky proposition, and this risk, in conjunction with the 

 extravagant cost of maintenance both in food and labour, and 

 the general inability of the calves bred from such cows to grow 

 into profitable feeders, has affected the demand for the 

 " shelly " cow. To com.mand the highest market figure to-day 

 the cow or heifer must be wide, deep and level, of good 

 Shorthorn character, carrying a square, well -hung bag with 

 well-placed teats of medium size, being neither too short nor 

 coarse or " bottled." The demand for this class of animal is 

 practically insatiable, and in consequence such cows top the 

 ordinary market price in no matter what part of the country 

 they are offered. 



The breeding of Dairy Shorthorns offers many advantages 



