The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-12-23
(BY JOHN MICHELsO

J
ton stock good grade cows and a pure
bred bull of one of the strictly dairy
breeds. The grading up will be most
rapid when the predominant blood in
the grades corresponds with the blood
of the sire.
A foundation of this kind, of course,
does not produce stock that can be
registered, but by continuing the use
of good, pure-bred bulls of the same
blood, stock is soon obtained which,
so far as milk and butter production
are concerned, very closely approaches
in value that of pure breeding.
To start with a pure-bred herd is
practically beyond the means of the
majority of farmers. Furthermore,
there is an objection to placing we'll
cared-for, pure-bred cows under aver
age conditions as to feed, care and
management, because under any such
change the attainment of satisfactory
results would be practically impos-
sible. Where there is a gradual in
fusion of pure blood, as in the case
sires, the new blood is gradually &C
custOmed to the change of environ
ment and the herdsman is given the
necessary time to change his methods
to meet the requirements of pure
bred cattle.
Where the dairyman understands
the management of pure-bred stock
and has the means with which to pur
chase the right kind, a pure-bred herd
may be started to good advantage.
One Of the chief dangers in start
ing with a pure-bred herd is thu lack
of funds to procure the right sort Of
animals. Instead of purchasing a pure
bred bull and a number of pure-bred
COWS of common merit, it is better
policy to buy relatively cheap grade
COWS, and to add the money thus
saved to that originally set aside for
the bull This extra money is likely
to be the means of securing a bull of
outstanding merit.
Whether the cows be grades or
pure-breds, it is of the highest i'm
portance in building up dairy herd
to secure a purebred bull Of real
merit. Unless the bull is descended
from good mixers, it is folly to ex-
pect him to produce good mixers, no
matter how fine or ideal he may be
as an individual.
1t is, furthermore, of importance to
remember that herd cannot be sue
cessfully built up unless the bulls that
are successfully used belong to the
same breed. If the grading up is be-
gun with a Jersey bull the process
must be continued uninterruptedly by
the use of Jersey blood.
The Importance of the dairy sire is
recognized in the expression: The
bull is half the herd" Usually, how
ever, the bull is more than half the
herd, either for good or bad. In the
case of common or grade COWS, for ex-
ample, the pure-bred bull may count
for three-quarters or more of the
herd by reason of his greater pre-
potency. To so great an extent does
the bull determine the Improvement
or deterioration of the herd as to cal
for the utmost caution in his selection
In the case of a dairy BULL especial.
ly young bull, his chief value is de-
termined by the performance of his
portance to consider in his pedigree
are the following; CD The merit
of his mother and his sire's mother
(2) The merit Of the daughters of his
sire and grandsire. 90 The value
of the daughters Of his dam and his
grand-dam. ca The value of his sis
ters, if he has any, and (5) the value
of his own progeny, if he has any
The further back cOnsecutively good
records can be traced the more valu
able the animal. 1t should always be
however, that near an
cestors count for a good deal more
than those more remotely related.
With a first class bull at the head
of the herd, rapid improvement is
effected by selecting and retaining
calves from only the best mixers, at
the same time culling out those cows
whose records nave not been salts |
factory. This work cannot be done to -!
best advantage unless records are
kept of the quantity and quality of !
milk from each COW for a whole lac. |
tation period.
Where all of the COWS in the foun. |
dation stock are grades. none of the |
calves, of course, can be registered
1t is desirable, therefore, to add to |
the herd from time to time as means |
permit, some good pure-bred COWS of |
the same blood as the bulls that have |
been used This has the advantage
Of enabling the owner to dispose OF his |
calves to better advantage
The purchase of COWS, however is
always attended with the danger of |
contagious diseases into |
he herd. For this reason. the puF.