Connecticut western news., 1900-12-27
GRADING UP A HERD.
BETTER TO BREED THAN DEPEND
 UPON PURCHASES.

Not Worth While to Spend Time and
 Trouble Upon Inferior Animals.
 Points to Be Considered In Select
 ing Cows.
 Beginning ten years ago with native cows, such as were ordinarily found upon farms at that time, we became impressed with the idea that by grad ing up with a Jersey or Guernsey sire an improved herd of dairy cows might be secured, says correspondent of The National Stockman. The first cross, as has been suggested, was so satisfactory that the work of grading terest. Only the best of the female in- crease were retained as breeders, the selection being made after they had come in milk. These bred again to d pure bred sire gave us three-quarter blood animals. This process continued. judiciously culling the herd from year to year by means of the Babcock test and scales, gave us in few years a herd of cows which numbered over 40, | the average test of milk being per cent.
 | | that every animal would be of suff1- | cient value as butter producer to | justify her retention In the dairy. But every effort has been made to develop ! the female animals in the best possible manner.
 | The males were not retained. Most of them went for baby beef to be used on the family table. This we found to be a very satisfactory manner of dis posing of them. They were fed on sweet skimmilk and grain, with clover hay, until two to six months of age, | then dressed ofr and hung in the refrig- orator. With the family which the l farmer usually has to provide for there Is no trouble in disposing of them in this way. It furnishes cheap meat and settles very satisfactorily the question of what to do with the surplus males which are not suitable for the beef market A few suggestions are here with offered to those who would follow the example of the writer and raise their dairy cows in preference to pur- chasing them. ....a
 Breed from cows of recognized excel lence. It Is not worth while to spend the time and trouble with inferior ami malls. Look to 1t that the dam has the external points of good dairy COW. Among the most important of these Is the udder. Avoid malformations, be sure to select cows having well shaped udders and good sized teats. It is possi- ble to breed to a certain type of udder, and while there may occasionally be deficiencies in this respect, if the rule is adhered to the great majority will be of good form.
 Among the Guernseys there Is tend ency to udders lacking in frontal full. ness, although many of them carry splendid udders, square and generous in size.
 Another thing of importance is whether or not a COW takes on fat read fly. There are excellent cows which are fit for the block at all times, cows which produce above 300 pounds oi butter a year, but as a rule pin youl faith to the angular COW. The bony structure should be pronounced, which Is a sign that her food does not go tC fat, but rather to the production oi milk. A COW must be an exceptionally heavy milker to warrant being retained In the butter dairy If by the Babcoci she does not show better than a 4 pei
 cent test. Of course while fresh an!
 COW tests less than later on in the lac
 teal period. But an average, say aftel
 she has been giving milk for fou
 months, should certainly show consid erably better than the figure named
 The retail milk dealer may consider { COW which gives large quantity of
 per cent milk best for his use, but t , be manufactured into butter 1t Is bet
 ter to have a less quantity and have | richer.
 Still another point to be considere'
 in selecting cows to be bred with , view to development of the dairy her
 Is temperament. Avoid the kicker also
 Remember that it is a law of natur : that like produces like, and while kick 5 ing Is merely habit 1t Is believed tha even In this there will be transmitted tendency to the same thing In the ofl , spring.
 Certainly my experience justifies tn
 assertion that it Is better to grade u
 and breed a dairy herd such as on wishes rather than depend upon tn
 uncertainty of making satisfactory a6 ditions by purchase.