The Rural Voice, 1980-04, Page 23Farming in the past
Cattle, 1880 style
BY ADRIAN % OS
A hundred years ago the main cattle breeds in North America
were the Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Jersey and Devon.
Other, Tess common breeds were the Hereford. Dutch.
Holstein, Alderney. Guernsey, Swiss and Brittany.
From this list it is easy to see the changes that have taken
place. Today the main breeds areHolstein-Friesian and Hereford.
The Dutch breed and the Holstein were considered to be
different. John Read wrote about them in his book, "Farming for
Profit" in 1880. He said that "the Holstein cattle are similar to
the Dutch, and the two names are often used to represent the
same cattle. The distinction between them is that the former
name stands for the common breed of cattle in Holland, while the
latter represents the breed kept in the Northern part of the
country, which is called Holstein. The Holstein cattle are so
nearly like the Dutch, they need no separate description. Their
breeders call them far superior. but this claim is rejected by the
owners of the Dutch."
Today, of course, every farmer knows that both names applied
to the same breed of cattle. It shows some lack of research by
Mr. Read that he placed the Danish -German area of Holstein in
Holland. In their native country they' are called Friesians. for
their cradle stood in the northern Province of Friesland, 'in the
Netherlands.
The same mixup applied to the Jersey and the Alderney. both
of which came from the Channel Islands. There was no
difference.
The Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Jersey and Devon have steadily lost
ground to the Friesian and the Hereford.
Some of the considerations in choosing which breed was most
suitable were quite different than they are today.
It seems obvious that a farmer working with oxen wouldn't
choose Jerseys, because they were much too small.
But the Ayrshire was rejected as an ox because that breed
was generally too irritable.
The Shorthorn was considered best for beef for it grew fast.
But not everywhere, for it required good feed and pasture.
Asan ox it was too slow and too heavy on soft land.
John Read considered the Devon the superior breed of cattle
on the farm. It was valuable as beef with a fast growth and good
feed conversion.
QUIET AND DOCILE
Dev on oxen were the best to be found. "They are hardy,
strong, active, good tempered, quiet and docile."
The Hereford he considered only good for beef production and
then only if there was good pasture.
Mr. Read's opinion on the Friesians, however they were
called, is the same held by modern farmers the world over,
except that now the best ones come from Canadian farms. "They
yield an immense amount of milk from which a large quantity of
butter can be made. They are especially adapted to the cheese
producing districts."
Swiss cattle weren't considered to have much merit and were
rejected by the agricultural research institutes of the day
as being inferior to the existing breeds.
And finally the Brittany cattle. They were only good for steep.
hilly country. These hills, not being much good for any other tic
might as well be pasture for these very small animals. That �..
the hills would at least yield some milk for the farm.
PG. 24 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1980
VISTA VILLA
Happenings
We believe we are getting closer
o producing boars for commercial men
that will have
More bone to produce
pigs that can grow big
and stay 1lean at any
weight.
Levelness of top &
rump which improves
rear leg structure helping
a boar to be able to
mount & breed sows
without his hind feet
sliding underneath.
Visci
Villa Bonus 1053L
More depth & spring of
rib to be able to tough
through crowded. stress-
ful conditions.
More depth of flank
indicating gut capacity to
eat a lot of feed to grow
fast
Come have a look
at what we are doing for you,
our respected customer
Vista Villa Farms
ROBERT J. ROBINSON
RRNo. 4 Walton 345-2317