Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-10-13
BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

DUiA4UING UT n DAInI HCnU
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-
Sdercd the standard speCial-purpOse
breeds, and the Red Polled, Shorthorn
and the Brown Swiss the most COM
mon dual-purpOse breeds, being used
to some extent for beef production.
The Jerseys and Guernseys are consid-
cred most economical for production of
butterfat, and the HClsteins 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
Rnce (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 ana lhe1
SUCK Win tllat Rreeu' pulIulhg up Ills
herd by selection,
The dairyman, TO be successful must
knnn only Sucb COWS that nav 81 good
annual profit. Many COWS do not pay
for their feed, while others may pay
from 50 to sou per year over expenses.
The unDrohtable cow is worth only
what she Will bring on the butchers
block (about $3O). The COW that pro-
duccS 500 profit over all expenses is
worth ten COWS that produce no proflt,
both as a breeder and producer, and
$3.50.
Breeding Better Than Buying.
Some dairymcn 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 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
1t 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
1t 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 to
quiet and gentle and also healthy. He
will usually be able to build up u good
herd more surely and quickly.
Sire Is Half the Herd.
The sire is half the herd but if he
Is q good ono no is nrattv neor all of
r. Grade cows NAV range in value
from SOL to 500. md tbe sire that can
produce the latter kind IS worth many
times more than the one that nro-
duces the S25 kind, IF q heifer can he
produced that, when mature. will give
no to 100 nounds moro butter or 600
mounds more milk ner wear than her
dam tbe annual nroft from such n
hcifer will accordingly he from $40 to
sos more than from the foundation
COW. II ten such heifers were raised
every year the increased profit will
he 800 to $3.50 more per year; if 20
heifers are raised, 5000 to $500 will be
gained each year by using a good bull.
Consequently it is hard to understand
how q progressive dairyman can afford