The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-09
Improvement in Breeding Dairy Stock.

Improvement in Breeding Dairy Stock.
From the american Stock Journal.
Good cows have three important
qualities, viz: They give rich milk,
yield it in large quantities, and hold
out well through the year. Though by
nature, there is great difference in cows,
still, perhaps as much depends on their
treatment, as on their original constitu-
tons. The most profitable and desira-
BILE cow for the dairy is not always the
one who, for short time, or on highly
stimulating or concentrated food, may
yield the most milk or butter, or both.
1t is not the quantity given, but the
quantity pro6tably given, which deter
mines the value; and this involves not
only the question of feeding and man
agement, but the number of weeks in
the year during which the cow may
continue to produce. 1t is more the
quantity produced in the twelve months,
than in any one or two weeks, which
involves the profit. A good mixer
alone does not, in our judgment, con-
stitute good cow; neither does "a
good breeder nor good feeder. 1t is
these three qualities combined that
make the cow. Give US COW that is
good for milk quality as well as quanti
ty considered, that when properly bred
to good bulls, will invariably produce
good calves, and one that when dried
of her milk, with proper care and at
tention, takes.on flesh rapidly and even
ly-and for one we rest, fur while at
least, satisfied And till we can raise
up an entire breed of cows, each one
Of which shall possess these excellen-
cies, our aim shall be to advance in i'm
provement till we can accomplish our
object
Equal care should be exercised in
the selection of sire as of a dam.
From infancy the stock bull should re-
ceive sufficient nutritious food to secure
thrift, but not enough to make any APP
proach toward obesity In order to
have large development of the viceral
organs this food should be given moist
and in as large bulk as is compatible
with the result desired. Quietness and
docility may not be overlooked, and
constitution and greediness are of the
first Importance. The same general
rule will apply also, to the rearing of
the heifer When she shall have at
tanned the age of fifteen months, she
should be mated with the bull From
this age up to five or six years old, is
offered our golden opportunity for the
most rapid development of high dairy
qualities. High condition is undesira-
able for heifer in calf, especially to-
ward the close of the term, because of
the danger of inflammation of the udder
and its connections, always more or
less manifested in the first state of lac
tation, quite often destroys the useful
ness of portion of those organs, and
inflammation to any degree, tends to
check the secretion of milk, and fix the
habits of the cow for scant production
Sometimes, it is best to let heifers go
farrow the second year to attain better
growth, but liberal feeding will general
ly do away with this necessity of under
fed animals. To avoid dwartng our
stock, the first calves of heifers should
not generally be reared for breeders.
Notwithstanding the low estimates at
which the cost of raising heifers is usu-
ally put, it has been generally conceded
by farmers that the raising of dairy
stock is Improbable. Without endorse
ing these estimates, we feel confident
that this state of things will continue
so long as unwarranted endeavors are
made to reduce the cost of production
and no efforts put forth to increase the
intrinsic value of our stock
Cows of extraordinary milking pro-
perties are found as often among
grades, as among thoroughbred ami
mails. The greatest mixer that has
ever come under my observation was a
grade Ayrshire. She would yield five
gallons at each milking, namely, twice
a day, making an aggregate of ten gal
Ions day, during several months of
the Summer, of excellent quality. The
best mixers in my diaries, have been,
with few exceptions, the grades of the
Ayrshire, Short-Horn, and other stock.
AS rule, the progeny of these extra
mixers become the best cows, and every
heifer calf from such cows should be
raised, except it fail to carry the pre-
vailing mark, indicating good mixer.
This mark is the upward growth of the
hair on the inside of the thigh of the
calf from Immediately behind the I'D
der as high as the hair grows. If it
run up in a smooth, unbroken column,
other things being equal, such as good
care and continued thrifty growth,
there will scarcely be failure. But
whatever other favorable Indications
and this wanting, the calf may be re-
garded as quite unpromising for the
dairy. There are other conditions neces-
sary to good COW, such as fair-sized
teats, an easy mixer, a yellow skin,
and others are familiar to all dairymen.
AS far as practicable large, well
developed animal is desirable. This is
found to predominant in the Durham
grades and thorough-breds. The i'm
provcment in the quality of our dairy
cowsis matter of SO much Importance
that to neglect it is unwisc. In select
ing cows for breeders, great care should
be taken in regard to size, handling and
other points. A COW should have a fine
head, little wide above the eyes, but
quite small below, and appear some
what long. Her nose should be of |
rich yellow color, at all events, not
black. Her neck should be very small !