Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-13
RAISE own DAIRY COWS.
BY Saving Promising Heifers, Farmers
Can Improve Their Herds to
Any Degree.
w. NJ. Kelly, New York.

a FANY farmers feel that they
MI ought to make an increase in
their herd, but the lack of means
to put good cows even though such
are for sale. Their case is by no means
as bad as it might be for they have
the best source of increase right in
their own dairy.
Of course this is not Immediately
available, but for that reson it may be
all the better for many man who
finds few cows very profitable to
keep, thinks he would do better with
many, and if the cash is at hand he
buys without sufficient forethough as
to the provisions he is able to make
for the increase in number.
Sometimes he finds himself woefully
long on cows and short on pasture
makes the change in the fall or later,
he may find himself crowded. for room
or lacking in forage before warm
weather comes to his relief.
None of these misfortunes can trou-
BILE the farmer who saves his promis-
Ing heifer calves to stock up his
giving him time to make proper pro-
The man owning a few extra good
mich cows can by breeding them to a
sire of some good dairy strain be sure
Undoubtedly inherit the milking quail
tiles of their progenitors, and in some
cases they may even surpass their
dams in productive capacity, particu
larly If these be but grades and the
sire be full blood.
We cannot assume that every heifer
calf will develop into model of dairy
qualities, but if any seem to be want
ing in the form which is typical Of
the female of the breed to which they
belong that one may be discarded. AS,
farther aid in determining the future
value of the calf as mich COW, spe-
cial attention was given to the mirror
or escutcheon and to the number of
the enlbrys teats, preference being
given always to the one showing FIVE
or six teats and an escutcheon extend
Ing upward as nearly to the limit as
possible.
The mirror or escutcheon is that
portion of the cows skin which is
wards from the udder and terminates
Ing downward.
These calves, being selected for a
purpose, may be fed and cared for so
their development is along proper
lines. AS they are expected for profit,
to reach maturity early they must have
an abundance of we'll balanced ra-
growth.
{1o s~s% ri, f@, o..
Is provided them, they have the pro-
visions most needed.
There is one thing more in raising
ones own cows, an advantage which
lis often lost sight of, and that is, that
the calves may be petted and fondled
from their birth and thus become so
used to being handled that none of
the much dreaded breaking in Is nee
essary when the heifer brings her
first calf and she will have no objec-
ton to being MIXED. but will yield
with apparent pleasure to that opera
ton
1t may be argued that heifer calves
may each year be in the minority
This may be obviated to some degree
by care in breeding. No infallible
rule for producing the sex desired in
animals has yet been made public
but it has been recommended that ii
birth has been given to a female, II
the same sex is again desired, then
population should not be allowed al
the period of the first heat following
the birth, but may be permitted al
the second or fourt or an alternate
heat thereafter.