Oxford Democrat., 1908-02-04

During my many years of farm in
stitute work l have been frequently
asked whether or not a beginner In
dairying should start with pure bred
animals. have always tried to answer
the question conservatively, taking into
account the times, the markets, the
farm and the man. As time advances
all things change, and dairyiug of to,
day involves many features unknown
only few years ago. Methods that
formerly won fair success now lead to a
continual loss. We must therefore con
slider this question as well as many
others relating to the dairy from the
conditions existing to-day.
Dairy products are continually ad-
vancing in price; grains are higher than
ever before; the margin, although mar
row, may be in favor of the producer,
but will be there only when up-to-date
business methods are employed. am
coming more and more to believe that
the establishment of pure bred herds is
a necessity to the further building up OF
the dairy interests all over the country,
and that as long as so large proportion
of dairies are working with grade ami
mails the depression that is seen over so
large proportion of our dairy area will
continue and no new fields will be clear
ed for its extension.
A six-weeks-old calf in good condition
for veal will bring more at the farmers
door to-day than the average year-old
that has no pedigree value. In the
light of this fact there are few men who
will take their chances in the growing
for the year, but they will accept the
dollar in sight and take their chances of
replacing the calf sold at some future
time.
This condition will not exist in a pure
bred herd. Here the young thing, be-
cause of the inherited tendencies coming
to it through it's recorded producing an
cestry, will possess value that no
butcher can touch in his purchases for
slaughter, and her life is saved for future
usefulness.
There is only one thing in the way Of
a rapid increase in pure bred herds and
that is lack of a full appreciation Of
pedigree value among our average dairy
men. To them cow is COW, and
with physical type the same, they see no
choice. The pedigree value, l believe,
ranks far and away above the individual
value. An inferior individual of good
breeding may be of more value in herd
than a superior individual of poor breed
ing. The totals of merit in the former
may be greater by far than in the latter,
and her offspring may, and probably
will, carry greater producing capacity
than those of the latter, because OF the
line of producing ancestry behind them.
| would therefore have our dairy teach
ers, particularly the agricultural press,
dwell more at length on the value OF
pedigree and show by the many convinc'
ing reasons near at hand that dairy sue.
cess comes only to those who fully ap-
preciate it. A complete knowledge of
engineering comes only to those who
have mastered every detail from the
ground up. The beautiful structure
that may adorn the city street stands in
it's completeness only as every stone,
beam and brace has been put IN proper
place. The noble characters In men and
women shine forth in power and glory
only as they have built up a well round
ed being through the proper develop
ment of every part. The dairy cow that
stands out as a producer without the
foundation of producing ancestry be-
hind her will topple and fall, either as
producer for short lactation periods or
for very few of them.
/ would not be misunderstood.
would always strive for animals OF in
dividual merit. Because of the con-
tinual, consistent breeding for type and
productiveness by the founders Of our
dairy breeds, there is no trouble in start
ing with the good Individual of good
breeding. Pedigree value and individ-
ual value united make the perfect ami
NAL, one that will do good work during
long life and leave behind her prog
eny that will continue her good work.
With her and her life as foundations for
our dairy herds the business will become
more popular and profitable and our
dairy products will improve. Our
dairymen will become better educated
and equipped in all that counts for true
success and citizenship and our dairy
area enlarged by the advent of intelli-
gent young men in the business, who
will represent one of the cornerstones OF
our agricultural greatness.--B. Walker
McKeen, Fryeburg- Me-, in Tribune
Farmer.