The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-05-14


good feeling, and is to be followed by
others of a similar nature, which trust
will prove useful to all who attend
W. ID. PHILBRIcK.
Written for the American Stock Journal
Improvement in Breeding Dairy Stock.
Good COWS have three important quail.
ties viz They give rich milk. yield it
in large qualities, and hold out well
through the year. Though, by nature,
there is great difference in cows, still, per-
haps as much depends on their original
constitutions. The most profitable and
desirable COW for the dairy is not always
the one who, for short time, or on high
ly stimulating or concentrated food, may
yield the most milk or butter, or both.
1t is not the quantity given, but the
quantity proftably given, which deter
mines the value and this involves not
only the question of feeding and manage.
ment, but the number of weeks in the
year during which the COW may continue
to produce. 1t is more the quantity pro-
duced in the twelve months, than in any
one or two weeks, which involves the
profit. A good mixer alone does not, in
our judgment, constitute good COW ;
neither does good breeder, nor q good
feeder. 1t is these three qualities COM
bined that make the COW. Give us a
COW that is good for milk quality as well
as quantity considered, that when prop
erly bred to good bulls, will invariably
produce good calves, and one that when
dried of her milk, with proper care and
attention, takes on flesh rapidly and even
ly-and for one we rest, for a while at
least, satisfied. And till we can raise up
an entire breed of COWS, each one of which
shall possess these excellencies, our aim
shall be to advance in Improvement till
we can accomplish our object.
Equal care should be exercised in the
selection ofa sire as of dam. From in.
fancy the stock bull should receive suf-
fcient nutritious food to secure thrift, but
not enough to make any approach toward
obesity. In order to have large devel.
opment of the vicseral organs this food
should be given moist and in as large
bulk as is compatible with the result de.
sired. Quietness and docility may not be
overlooked, and constitution and greedi-
ness are of the first Importance. The
same general rule will apply also to the
rearing of the heifer. When she shall
have attained the age of fifteen months,
she should be mated with the bull. From
this age unto five or six years old, is of.
fered our golden opportunity for the most
rapid development of high dairy qualities
High condition is undesirable for heifer
in calf, especially toward the close of the
term, because Of the danger of infama.
zion of the udder and its connections, al.
ways more or less manifested in the first
state Of lactation. quite often destroys the
usefulness Of portion of those organs
and inflammation to any degree tends tc
cneck the secretion of milk, and fix the
habits Of the COW for scant production.
Sometimes, it is best to let heifers 90
farrow the second year to attain better
growth, but liberal feeding will generally
do away with this necessity of under fec
animals. To avoid dwarfng our stock
the first calves of heifers should not gen
orally be reared for breeders. Notwith
standing the low estimates at which the
cost Of raising heifers is usually put. i
has been generally conceded by farmer
that the raising of dairy stock is unproft
able. Without endorsing these est
mates, we feel confident that this state o
things will continue so long as unwar
ranted endeavors are made to reduce tn
cost of production and no efforts put fortl
to increate the intrinsic value of ou
stock.