The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-05-29

uOliCy SIlOuIu Dc lbuISueu cNClS udhy
man must determine for himself
Some dairy cattle are noted for the
quantity of milk they produce. others
for the high quality or richness Of their
milk, which means they are good but
ter producers. Some combine quantity
and quality.
There are cows Of active habits
which forage well on a wide range OF
scanty pasture and will profitably |
work up the coarser kinds of food in |
winter. There are others which have
proved their capacity for making good
returns when more closely confined
and subjected to high feeding. Some
cows give a great flow of milk for a
comparatively short season, and others
are noted for an even, steady yield OF
milk the year through. AS rule. the
different dairy characteristics named
pertain to different breeds, so that
every dairyman is likely to find some
one breed Of dairy cattle better suited
to his wants than any other. There
Is no special cheesemaking COW. The
best butter COW is also the best for
cheese This fact has been demon
strated beyond dispute.
There are two very different ways Of
forming dairy herd and Of maintain
ing its size and quality. 1t may be
done by buying or by breeding. and
these two methods may be combined.
The purchasing plan is practiced to
considerable extent by those who
produce milk for town and city supply.
In a few cases 1t has been known to
be successful where the work of the
herd was to make butter. Applied in
its extreme form. cows are bought
when matured and at their prime.
judged almost exclusively by their
milk yield, are highly fed, so as to
keep steadily gaining In flesh, and are
sold. usually to the butcher, as soon
as they cease to be profitable as milk
ers The bull may be OF any kind so
| long MS he gets the cows In calf, as
| the calves nre Of value only as caus-
| ing fresh" cows and are disposed Of
as soon rs possible The first modifi
cation OF this system is to keep extra
| good cows for several seasons and the
next to raise heifers from some Of the
best mixers to replenish the herd
This way of making up herd and
keeping good its numbers requires
abundant capital and rare judgment IL
buying and in selling. It cannot be
recommended to one lacking expert
ence. and even the shrewd buyer runs
great risk Of introducing disease.
The other extreme IS to begin with
few we'll selected animals as Il fonn
dation and gradually build up the herd
to the size desired by judicious breed
ing and natural increase. This method
takes time. and time which may be
money, but 1t is by far the safer and
more satisfactory in its results.
\ desirable combination In starting
is to buy the number Of cows desired
and good animals of the sort determin
ed in advance. II ones means vii!
permit include few superior cows
and first class bull Mt any rate. Let
the cows selected he such as have had
two calves and perhaps three so tina;
they may be judged by their own de
vclopment and yet be young enough to
improve and be in full profit for some
years. With herd thus formed he
gin at once the work OF improvement
by breeding and selection. Sell prompt
ly any cow which proves unsatisfac
tory and replace her by the best in
|! crease of the herd. or purchase occa
sionally an animal which will raise tht
average quality.
A dairyman can hardly be advised
to buy ut once Il full stock of pure
| bred cattle of any breed If his sole Oh
ject and dependence for profit is to b.
the dairy product of the herd Suci
venture will necessitate large invest
ment and should include the breedin:
e of registered animals. for sale at re
: business Well bred and well selected
$ grade cows of the line of blood de
n sired seem to be the most profitable
$ animals for the practical dairyman o
at least the best to begin with. If eli
t terprising and progressive the owne
e will hardly be content with grade
: only. He may begin with only his b,.I
"
r registered COW to match. then one .
: two more.
). The bull is constantly referred to n
l. the head" of the herd, and that trit
saying. THE bull is half the herd.
e should never be forgotten. The grad
It lied upon to give size. form. constitr
II ton and capacity of production to he
II heifer calf. Its dairy quality. the II
II bred power to increase the richness Q
s milk. is derived from the pure bred sir
D One COW may prove 4 poor dam or fl
d. to breed and still give profit in mill
a. Such loss is comparatively trivi:
T. and the fault easily corrected. But
the bull fails or proves a poor sire tn
al entire increase of year may be los
a In getting bull get the best. or .
'g least approach that standard as near
or as possible A common error anon
Is dairymen is to use immature bulls an
e. to dispose Of good ones before the
IS merit as sires has been fairly prove
ii Bull calves are cheap. and young bul
re are considered much easier to handl
s. But it is good advice to the buyer
O. purchase a bull of some age. who!
at progeny proves his value rs breede
OF rather than a calf of exceptional pee
s. gree. and to the owner, having 81
III Of proved excellence, to keep him Al
III use him for years or as long as
~ shows himself potent and prepoter
CT OF course the question of too close
- breeding is not forgotten and must n
es be overlooked by the breeder II
n -. :.