Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-31
SOME YO UNG ca
BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

With the average farmer the cheap
est and most satisfactory way of start
ing a dairy herd is to select as founda-
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.
y foundation of this kind. OF course
does not produce stock that can be
registered, but by continuing the use
of good. pure-hred bulls of the same
blood, stock is soon obtained which 50
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 Ia placing we'll
cared-for rure-bred cows under aver
age conditions as tn feed. care and
change the attainment Of satisfactory
results would be practically Impossible.
Where there is gradual infusion of
pure blood. as in the case OF grading
up herd with pure bred sires. the new
blood is gradually accustomed TO the
change of environment 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 purchase
the right kind. a pure bred herd may
he started to good advantage.
one of the chief dangers in starting
with pure-bred herd is tho lack OF
funds 10 procure the right sort Of ami
mails. Instead OF purchasing a pure
pred pull and a number az pure-bred
COWS Of common merit it is better
policy 10 buy relatively cheap grade
cows. and I" add tn" money thus saved
10 that originally set aside for tn.
bull. This extra money is likely to be
the means Of securing a bull of out
standing merit.
Whether the COWS he grades or pure
hreds, 1t is Of the highest Importance in
building up dairy herd to secure a
pure bred bull Of real merit Unless
ers. II is folly 10 expect him TO produce
good mixers. no matter how fine or
ideal he may be as an Individual
II is Furthermore. of Importance to
remember that herd cannot he sue
c"ssfully built M unless the bulls that
are Succcssiveiy used belong to the
same breed If the grading up is begun
with Jersey bull the process must be
continued uninterruntcdly by the use
OF Jersey blood.
Tho Importance OF the dairy sire is
recognized in tho expression: The
| bull is half the heard" Usually how
ever. tn" hull is more than half the
herd. either FOR good or bad In the
cas-" OF common or grade cows for en-
ample. the pure bred bull may count
for three quarters o. more, OF the herd
ny reason Of mis- greater prepotcncv
To so great an extent does the bull
determine IN" IMPROVEMENT or deteri-
grafton Of tho herd As 10 call for the
utmost caution In his selection.
In IN" case of dairy bull. espec-
( tally young hull his chief value is
determined by the performance Of his
ancestry. Tn" points OF greatest i'm
portancc 10 consider in his pedigree
are IN" following tb The merit Of
MS mother and his si-cs mother: 81
IN" merit OF the dauzhters Of his sire
ana rrandsire o. the value of the
dauEhterS Of his dam and mis- grand
dam: Ga the value Of his sisters. If
he mas any. ana -, the value Of his
own progeny. II ne has any The
iurtAcr back ConsecutiVclv good record :
can hc traced the more valuable the
animals. II should always be rcmem-
hcTcd. however. that near ancestors
count for good deal more than those
more remotely related
With first-class bull at the head
Of the herd. rapid Improvement is ef-
f"cted hy selecting and retaining calves
from only tho best mixers. at the
same time cullinc out those cows
whose records have not been salts
factory. This work cannot be done TO
nest advantage unless records are kent
o. inc quantity and quality OF milk