The Monticellonian., 1916-10-05
BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

Generally speaking there is no best
breed of dairy COW. although some IRE
better for certain purposes than 9th
ers. There are firSt=elass COWS Ill eY-
cry breed. and also many Improbable
ones. Success depends more Upon the
selection of profitable individuals Than
upon the breed. The Jersey. Helstein,
Guernsey and Ayrshire breeds are con-
siaered the standard speeiai-nHrpese
breeds, and the Red Folied, Shorthorn
and the Brown Swiss the most CON-
mon dual-purpose breeds, being used
to some extent for beef production.
The Jerseys and Gpernseys are consid-
cred most economical fer production of
hutterfat. 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 fshown by milk and butter rec
ords) and developed by care and good
feeding. The beginner should eonsid-
er 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. 10 be successful. must
keep only such COWS that pay good
annual profit Many COWS do not pay
for their feed. While others may pay
from s. to $50 per year over expenses.
The Improbable COW is worth onlF
what she will bring on the butchers
block (ahout S301. The COW that pro
duees $50 profit over all expenses IS
worth ten cows that produce no profit.
both as breeder and producer and
should at least be valued at 500 to
&ia0.
Breeding Better Than Buying.
Some dalrymen buy fresh cows.
breeding to 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 hefers from their best stock.
The first method has only one advan-
tage, that of allowing tie dairyman to
nse all his pastures and buildings for
CONS 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 10 depend on breed
ing up his own herd The man who
depends on buying gets eull stock, usti-
ally, unless he pays much more than
II would cost to breed it himself lie
also runs big risk Of buying diseased
cattle with tuberculosis or contagious
abortion. The man who breeds up his
own stock can develop his heifers to
good advantage SO that they will be
quiet and gentle and also healthy. He
will usually be able 10 build up good
herd more surely and quickly.
Sire Is Half the Herd.
The sire is half the herd, bur if he
Is good one he IS pretty near all Of
1t. Grade cows may range in value
from S25 to $50, and the sire that can
produce the latter kind is worth many
times more than the one that pro-
duces the SOS kind. If heifer can be
roduced TINT. when mature. will give
80 to 100 pounds more butter or t.oo0
pounds more milk per year than her
dam. the annual profit from such Il
heifer Will accordingly be from SIC to
SO more than from the foundation
COW. Ii ten sueh heifers We're raised
every wear, me increased profit Will
be 800 to $40 moro per year; If %
heifers are raised, 5000 to $500 will be
gained each year by using Il good bull.
Consequently II is hard to understand
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