284 
THE DAIRY QUALITIES OF SHORTHORN COWS. 
THE DAIRY QUALITIES OF SHORTHORN COWS. I 
In some hasty remarks on this subject in a 
preceding number, we said in relation to the 
constantly-paraded produce of the Oaks and 
the Nourse cows, “that we can show in many 
shorthorn herds, numerous instances of larger 
yielders whether of milk or butter.” We had 
an impression that many results were on recoVd 
to verify this assertion, but on recurring to 
written authorities we found our convictions 
had been formed upon oral testimony rather 
than the more formal and documentory. But 
since the Albany Cultivator, in its zeal for up¬ 
holding the natives , has challenged us to the 
proof, we must call its attention to such brief 
authority as has, on a moment’s investigation 
presented itself. 
Youatt says “ that one of Mr. Calvert’s short¬ 
horn cows yielded 373 pounds of butter in 32 
weeks, during which time she was lame for six 
weeks from foul in the feet; and that during 
the height of the season, she gave 28 quarts of 
milk per day, which, (in a week,]) yielded 17 
pounds of butter.” Had this rate been continued 
for 52 weeks without deducting anything for 
the disadvantage of the lameness, she would 
have given 606 pounds; and without the acci¬ 
dent, probably 630 pounds. 
The same author gives the yield of what he 
calls a Holderness, at the Earl of Chesterfield’s 
Bradley Hall Farm-, (but which we are assured 
from one who has visited the place and made 
particular inquiry on the spot, was a pure 
shorthorn,) that gave, in the best of the sea¬ 
son, 29 quarts of milk per day, from which 38$ 
ounces of butter were made. 
Colonel Powell’s shorthorn cow Belina calved 
in September, 1830, and from about the 20th of 
that month to the 20th of May following, a pe¬ 
riod of eight months, she made sometimes as 
high as 18, and never less than 14 pounds of 
butter per week, averaging over 16 pounds 
during the whole of this period. She was dried 
off as rapidly as possible after May, to recruit, 
her progeny being of more consequence to 
her owner than either milk or butter. Here 
was actually produced 554§ pounds in eight 
months, and at the rate of 832 pounds of butter 
for the year. The milk from this cow was so 
rich, that the butter could always be brought 
by simply stirring the cream with a spoon. 
This cow yielded 20$ pounds of butter in one 
week. 
Mr. Sheafe’s shorthorn cow Lucilla, in June, 
1844, gave 337 pounds of milk in one week, 
which produced 15 pounds, 3 ounces butter. 
| Her food was grass only. See American Herd 
Book, page 198. 
Mr. Vail, of Troy, writes us, that “ one of his 
cows made 52$ pounds of butter in 30 days, and 
in two days yielded over 92 pounds of milk. 
Another cow gave 34$ quarts of milk, (wine 
measure,) in one day, and 19$ pounds of very 
choice butter in one week. Both of these cows 
had nothing but grass pasture during the trial, 
and very ordinary keeping previously.” 
Thus, a thorough-bred shorthorn produced 
over 2 pounds, 12$ ounces of butter per day, 1 
which rather exceeds the quantity yielded by 
the Oaks cow, and this, be it remembered, was 
on grass alone. It is true that the trial did not 
continue so long as that of the latter; but there 
is no doubt had Mr. Vail given her the same feed 
as the Oaks cow had, she would easily have 
beaten her, either on a long or short trial. Mr. 
V.’s butter was well worked, and of the lest quality. 
How it was with that of the Oaks cow, the re¬ 
cords do not say ; but all know, that half a 
pound of buttermilk can be easily worked out 
of 2f lbs. of what some very honest housewives 
would call good butter. 
Colonel Sherwood, of Auburn, has an imported 
shorthorn heifer, which, at four and a half years 
old, with her second calf, gave in May last, 
14j^ths pounds of butter in six days, which is 
17 pounds per week. This was on grass only, 
and before it had acquired its full nutritive 
qualities, and while still diluted with the thin, 
exhuberant sap of early spring. On a second 
trial, she gave 1,1 Ilf pounds, (say 556 quarts,) 
of milk, from 20th May to 19th June, which 
made 60$ pounds of butter. In the July num¬ 
ber of the Cultivator, one of the editors says: 
“ We had several opportunities of testing a 
sample of this butter, and it was of superior 
quality.” 
Mr. Francis Bloodgood, of Albany, had an im¬ 
ported shorthorn cow, in 1835, which gave 33$ 
quarts of milk per day. Mr. Canby’s shorthorn 
cow Blossom, gave an average of 35 quarts per 
day for a week, yielding 13$ pounds of butter. 
Dr. Martin, of Kentucky, owned a shorthorn 
cow, that, in clover and blue grass pasture, is 
said to have yielded—the doctor himself being 
the authority—41 quarts of milk per day for 
three weeks in succession. 
Cyrus P. Smith, Esq., formerly mayor ot 
Brooklyn, N. Y., had a full-blooded shorthorn 
cow, that, in September, 1841, gave 34f quarts 
strained milk in one day, and 34$ and 34 per day 
subsequently; and for three months in succes¬ 
sion, gave not less than 32 quarts per day. From 
