Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-10-05
BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

Generally speaking, there is no best
breed of dairy COW, although some are
better for certain purposes than 9TH
ers. There are first-class COWS in ev-
cry breed, and also many improbable
ones. Success depends more upon the
selection of profitable individuals than
upon the breed. The Jersey, Holstein,
Guernsey and Ayrshire breeds are con-
sidered the standard special-purpOse
breeds, and the Red Polled, Shorthorn
and the Brown Swiss the most ccr1-
mon dual-purpose breeds, being used
to some extent for beef production.
The Jerseys and Guernseys are consid-
cred NEST economical for production of
butterfat, and the Holsteins and Ayr
shires are considered more profitable
for milk production. The Holsteins
should be kept on good pasture and on
heavy rations. Profitable animals
must be selected on basis of perform
ance (shown by milk and butter rec
ords) and developed by care and good
feeding. The beginner should consid-
err his market carefully, select the
breed he likes best from those most
suited to local conditions and then
stick with that breed, building up his
herd by selection.
The dairyman, to be successful, must
keep only such cows that pay a good
annual profit. Many cows do not pay
for their feed, while others may pay
from IS to $50 per year over expenses.
The Improbable COW is worth only
what she will bring on the butchers
block (about $30). The COW that pro-
duces $50 profit over all expenses is
worth ten cows that produce TO profit,
both as a breeder and producer, and
should at least be valued at 500 to
$3.50.
Breeding Better Than Buying.
Some dairymen buy fresh cows,
breeding to a common sire and selling
the young stock and old cows to the
butcher. Others breed their own stock,
use good sires, keep milk records and
develop heifers from their best stock,
The first method has only one advan-
tage, that of allowing the dairyman to
use all his pastures and buildings for
cows that are milking. Recognizing
the value of a good COW, the dairyman
should always be prepared to buy one
that is better than what he has, but
it is much safer to depend on breed
ing up his own herd. The man who
depends on buying gets Gull stock, usu-
ally, unless he pays much more than
it would cost to breed it himself. He
also runs a big risk of buying diseased
cattle with tuberculosis or contagious
abortion. The man who breeds up his
own stock can develop his heifers tc
good advantage so that they will be
quiet and gentle and also healthy. He
will usually be able to build up a goot
herd more surely and quickly.
Sire Is Half the Herd.
The sire is half the herd, but If he
is a good one he is pretty near all q
it. Grade cows may range in value
from $25 to $3.50, and the sire that car
produce the latter kind is worth many
times more than the one that pro
duces the $25 kind. If a heifer can b.
produced that, when mature, will give
so to 100 pounds more butter or 1,00t
pounds more milk per year than he
dam, the annual profit from such
heifer will accordingly be from $40 t.
$25 more than from the foundation
COW. If ten such heifers were raiset
every year, the increased profit vii
be 500 to $3.50 more per year; If 2
heifers are raised, 5000 to $500 will b.
gained each year by using a good bull
Consequently it is hard to understand
how a progressive dairynan can affor'
to let q difference of $100 or so II
the original cost of a herd bull STAN
between him and an additional annua
income of $500. Yet dairymen will bu,
sos scrub bulls that are worse tina
useless as improvers Of their herds
while purebred males costing 500 {
$3.50 more would pay for themselve
many times over in the increased valu
Of the young stock produced. The sir
that cannot increase the value Of tn
herd is dear at any price. While tn
owner of a grade herd may be %justifie
in buying as high-priced a sire as tn
breeder of pure breeds, a good animf
will always be cheapest in the end.
Selection of Dairy Sire.
Only a purebred sire should be use
from ancestors Of known merit and
good breed type, Insecurity and col
s~titution. Select, IL possible, the so
of O frst-class dairy COW as the cha
acteristics of the dam are most likel
to be reproduced In the heifers of II
next generation. The best indicatio