Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-12-14
(By w. NJ. KELLY)

There is no phase OF the DAIRY DUST
ness that needs more study or more
careful management than does the
breeding of the cow
Upon the COW depends success or
failure and we must, after selecting
her, look to her care and her feed,
and to the handling of her products.
The fact that dairymen have de-
voted more attention 10 other phases
of their dairying than TO the breeding
and development of the COW is one or
the reasons why so many of our dairy
herds are not capable of returning
q profit from their food and cost of
attendance.
We are often asked which is the
best breed of dairy cattle to select for
the dairy? To such men | would say
that there is no best breed. Some
think because they have Jerseys they
are on the royal road to success.
Others think that the Holsteins will
bring prosperity to the farm.
This is a sad mistake, for scrubs
are very common among the pure
breeds, and pure-bred scrub is with
out doubt the worst scrub of all.
Select cows having individual eI-
cellence as determined by the Babcock
test and scales in starting a herd.
Better and more uniform results of
breeding may be secured If the ami
mails are of one type of breed and
great care should be exercised in get
ting individuals which possess to
certainty the characteristics we desire
TO perpetuate in the herd.
What We dairymen want is a herd
OF cows that will give a profit at the
pail, whether pure-breds or grades
The ones that will produce a pound of
butter or cheese the cheapest are the
ones that we want to keep in our
herds.
We have a number OF improved
breeds Of dairy COWS that represent
the skill of years in their perfection,
but in adopting any of these breeds
we should consider the conditions and
environments under which they have
been developed in their original homes
and then plan to make our care and
feed and general management con
form to the conditions under which
the breed had been developed.
>, If a man has Jerseys, give them Isle
OF Jersey care and feed for they can
not succeed on scrub fare and fodder.
They were not intended for that pur-
pose.
The Jersey COW is a delicate, nerv-
Gus machine and requires warmth,
kindness and liberal feeding to make
her profitable.
II Holsteins are selected do not ex-
pect them to thrive on closely cropped,
scanty pastures where they are COM
PEELED to rustic all day to gather suf-
fcient food.
Give them the care they were de-
veloped under, large amounts OF sue
culent forage and well cured hay,
warm stables and kind treatment.
You may get pure-breds II you can
AFFORD them, but all farmers are not
able to buy pure-breds. However. al
ways use a pure-bred sire.
The breeding bull always represents
half the value Of the breeding power
of the herd II It is desired to grow
calves for the dairy.
Select them from some Of the we'll
known families Of the breed and be
sure that he possesses prepotency
which gives promise of being a good
calf-getter.
r. A bull Of this kind will give you
excellent results in improving the
herd. Some of the best herds in the
country are high grades that have re-
suited from the continued use of good
sires.
In order to be successful as breeders
we must learn some of the lessons
associated with our stock; have an
ideal type in our minds and always in
our selection and mating be seeking
TO improve the type and standard in
our herd.
The best special purpose animal Is
none too good. Never strive to pro
duce a general purpose animal by
mixing beef and dairy breeds. Ain
N produce the animal whose specia
characteristic is the cheap production
of a pound of butter or a gallon o
milk
Always seek to have the crosses IL
harmony. Do not mate extremes
yigor and constitution are two essen
tails. Unless a COW possesses yigor II