The Thousand Gallon Cow

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1915, Page 2

The Thousand Gallon Cow

ihe pursuit of tlio thousand-gallon cow is certainly exhilarating, if it is not always success!til, says tho I'itnner and Stockbreeder (England.) I'rbin tiie glib way iu which one hears those pndigios uuked or it might almost bo imagined that they can ue iotincl uii every pasture, and that the deep-mllk-ui-.f qualities of JJ-ritisli dairy cattle — peuigree and otherwise—were more intimately known to , tanners than •to those who have vainly sought to buy that particular claws ol stock, in the aggregate, of course, there are u goouV le-.v thousand-gallon cows, that is to say, cows that produce !U",2-jolb of milk or over m a year; not during tlio period, ol lactation which may oo extended according to the idiosyncrasy oi the aiuniai or the wish ol the breeder. Our experience clearly shows that cows ul tins kind are far ilreni numerous, not so numerous a.s they will be in future il we aim at a high standard. Has we cannot expect to achieve by niero haphazard methods. .Breeding, for in ilk calls for fji«m\ei'ci.ve ol as great care as the m'. ling up oi a, beef race or the stowi'wardship of a type. It in list be pursued with sound judgment, having rc;.ui:d to the purpose of the breed ami to the need for a very pro-lk-ient animal milking machine.

V thousand-gallon herd average 'a certainly an exalted pinnacle to reacn .J one iiicli)-,le.j tlie nrst calver.s in tho returns. We do not say that it is impossible of achievement; but when it has been accomplished the breeder certainly deserves a nitch in the temple ol fame. We are afraid that from a, knowledge of circumstances we are yet a long way from attaining to that ideal, and with the pedigree dairy Shorthorn one might asK whether indeed, it is desirable. it is quite evident that a high average can only be obtained where exceptional milkers are kept and some of these cows would probably reijiiire to give «it least IoUU gallons in the year. There -are cows that have accomplished this, and are still capable ol giving close upon that

quality; but these are veu-y rarely found. One might suggest under the i-imiinstances that il it i.s desirable that pedigree daily Shorthorns should reach .such a high stage of lacteal development te other qualities lor which the ■jieed if earned will almost inevitably

.ill Her. Aluc-h better it would be to iiave a good but not excessive yield ol milk, and a type ol animal which may always be described as a Shorthorn. Aiaiiy breeders with strong .sympathies iouard the development ol the milking Shorthorn recognise that the cow ■ hat gives a thousand gallons is as Hilly weveloped as is desirable in the interests ol the breed. \ot only i.s it pos<ble when a con proves her worth at .in. , pail to sell bulls inucii nioro luadily ironi her; but heifer* also have an exulted value. AlosL breeders who nave nerds ol pedigree dairy Shorthorns avo phiguwl with correspondents who seek iu purcha.se bulls at moderate prices out of cows that give one thousand gallons in a year. With a limited numoed of cattle of this description tlio

piuiM.'uoitliy purpiwi" t>l obtaining ;i sire wcil defended sccmiik to .obsess lliose wJio uro striking out on ILuok oi tlioir own; but ib k equally pertinent lioJii tjii! bi'L'oiler's poinL or view that ftiifchinLiii] siijjis slioiikl he lortlicoinmg i'or Uio doscciidants ol dccp-iiullilng stmins.