Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1910 — UDDER IMPORTANT IN DAIRY CATTLE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UDDER IMPORTANT IN DAIRY CATTLE.

Years of close observation and not a little personal experience have proved to my satisfaction that there Is no use saying or claiming that there is any one 'breed which is best for everybody, writes E. E. Rockwood in National Stockman. There are certain characteristics inherent in each, certain differences between them, which would appeal to different men in an entirely different way. One admires the big bodied, generous yielding Holsteins. He wants a lot of milk and is not so particular about the rate of butter fat There are certainly many points of excellence about Holsteins. They have few udder troubles, are hardy and rugged. hearty eaters and splendid producers. By selecting only those showing the better percentage of fat a profitable herd can be had. For those who do not demand an exceptionally large flow of milk, looking rather to richness of the product and its low cost, the Jersey cow certaimy commends our hearty approval. As an economical producer of rich milk she cannot be excelled. That the Jersey is any more susceptible to disease or Is less rugged than any other cow there is no proof. v Many 1 Individuals might be improved by giving them larger teats These points are matters lying almost wholly with the selection of animals. Any breeder can improve the udders on his herd in a single generation by discarding all but the type which he wishes to preserve. Jersey heifers at first calving in our own herd have shown widely differing conformation in this respect, varying from udders the size of a two quart pail to those measuring forty-five inches in circumference, with good sized teats from the first. The Guernsey cow we have had an opportunity of studying at close range also. We have had them standing side by side with Jerseys in the stable. As producers they average about the same in quantity and also in quality. They are vigorous and hardy with ordinary care and are somewhat less excitable than the Jerseys. Let a stranger enter the stable and every Jersey is on her feet, wide eyed with interest, while the Guernsey continues chewing her cud undisturbed. In udder conformation the Guernsey shows a persistent tendency to unevenness. Many are too light in the front quarters. This peculiarity of the Guernsey udder does not necessarily mean a han-

[Udder of Princess, a pure bred Holstein, owned by the New Jersey Agricultural college. In 1909 she produced 14.507 pounds of milk.J dicap, since there are any number of cows possessing that type which have proved excellent performers. I call Guernseys excellent cows, persistent milkers of a high quality of milk and a .breed which a man will make no mistake in selecting. The Brown Swiss have a place in the dairy ranks; also the Ayrshires. My advice to any one beginning a dairy herd would be this: If the object is quantity of milk and medium fat content, select the Holsteins. If for rich milk, cream or butter, the Jersey or the Guernsey either will fill the bill. Whatever breed is chosen one will need to do considerable culling and use the Babcock test and the scales faithfully in order to bring his herd up to the most profitable point. When this is done, any of the recognized dairy breeds will prove satisfactory if cared for and fed as they should be.

A SPLENDID MAMMARY SYSTEM.