A FAMOUS MILCH COW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2047, 26 January 1889, Page 3

A FAMOUS MILCH COW.

(Condensed from " Live Stock Journal.") Of late years there have been instances made public of heavy yields of milk from animals of what are known as the milkIng breed of catties, bat ia most Instances these test have extended over only a few days. The more practloal American i tenners have instituted milking tests that extend over the whole twelve months, and 4bb severe trial has given some wopderfnl «enltev « Tbe record Is so extraordinary that tho« used to tbe moderate returns given by Australian milch oows will fiad ft difficult to bejieve the records made by the best AmerUan dairy cows, thoagh these reoordu have been collected m the most caret al manr er The highest record for the reason 1887*8 was made by a Frisian -HoUteln cow named Pleterje 2ndj bred by T.K, Boxn»,Frlc aland. Imported to America, November 1, 1882, by A. Bradley for E. Saith, Mass., frem nhotn she was pnrcbaeed by D. B Whlpple, Cuba, Alleghacy county, New York. On February 19, 1887, Pietertje 2nd, then ten years old, dropped a heifer calf, and began •her ypar's milk record' on February 24, at 6.30 c.m. She was mjlkad three times a d»f, at 630 a.m., 1 p.m , and at 8 p.m.. being once a day less than Olothllde, who held the highest record of the'preTlous retsor. Her highest yield of milk per day was 11271 b, or nearly 56 quarts, sod her lowest milk yield, which occurred In her 11th month, was 4151 b, or a little over 2o quarts. The total yield of milk for the twelve months was 30,318$U>of m!lk,|th*s|heatlng Cloth' He'e record of the previous «eason by 49971 b 6oz. This j truly wonderful «ow yielded a daily average of over 831 b of milk for an entire year. The average prodaet of the mlloh cows of the United States Is said to be leas than 30001 b, and it is an indication of Pleteitje's value as a dairy oow that ■he should give more than ten times that quantity of milk At 8 cents per quart (tie New York retail price) her milk for th« year realise 1201 do), and allowing SlOdol for her keep this would leave a profit of lOOOdol for milk alone, while tbe calf from snob a oow Is estimated at fully lOOOdol more. Many disinterested persons made frequent tests of this record before It was completed, the list of visitors Including breeders of Jersey, Ayrshires, and Hoiite'ns, and among others a member of the firm owning Olothllde. The following is a description of tbe treatment of tbe oow during the teat : — The feed sad care of this cow daring the record was of the utmost importance m Attaining the great result. Everything vh done to promote the greatest possible flow of milk; PJetertja 2nd was kept m a basement boxstali, 12ft by 14ft, and 7ft * Ugh, m the north-east corxer of the barn, . atone walls on the north and east, and a 4ft board partition on the south and west tides, and wire nottlng above the same to ceiling to exolude flies. This stall is lighted and ventilated by an opening to the floor above near a window, and Its floor is planted and bedded with kilndried shavings. The food and water Platerjs 2nd consumed daily during the record was. on an average, 601 b potatoes, 15'.b timothy hay, 21b cornstalks, 131 b $03 wheat bran, 131 b 2oz ground oats, 3 b Blatohford's meal, 6z Tborley'n tonic meal, 6oz salt, 1151bs water, and 661 b water In mash ; total, 278. b. This was given In three feeds, and cost •boot 650. In addition to the above Pietertje 2nd had good olover pasture from May 10 to October 22nd, being turned out only after •nn4own, and taken m m the morning before sunrise, to avoid tho worry of flies. Of ooursa when she was on grass ■he would not take all the feed mentioned In the above daily average. December 1, 1887, she was turned to bull, fceocfi «»» about three months m calf when her record was completed. Her appearance from February 16 to 18 last was that of an almost perfect model of the HolsteinFrleslan breed In show condition, bright eye, active and healthy, with hide and haft as soft and silky as a mole' a Much of the succeis of Pietertje 2nd Is, doubtless, due to the skilful treatment ahe received. Mr tf hippie Is an experienced dairyman, and bis father b jfore fcigg w»# a skilful deirjrmin,