The midland journal., 1916-11-03
RAISING DAIRY CATTLE
Relative Importance of Heredi-
ty and Environment.
Ration During Growing Period viii
Influence Size When Mature, and
Type to Some Extent, Says
Missouri Expert.
O3y C. II. ECKLES, Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station.)

n
(By c. H ECKLEs, Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station.)
Many of the most thoughtful breed
ers are asking agricultural expert
ment stations if it is possible to fol-
low any method Of feeding and man.
agement of dairy heifers that will
make it more certain that the heifers
will be good producers. 1t is another
application of the question as to the
relative Importance of heredity ana
environment. Does a good dairy COW
or an inferior one derive her special
dairy characteristics by inheritance,
or is it result of her treatment from
birth to maturity? Is good dairy
COW born that way, or made what she
is by her owner? ~
It is a well-lznown fact that there is
considerable difference in practice
among cattlemen in regard to the feed
ing and handling of dairy heifers. We
find radically different views on some
points. Some hold that a COW should
be fresh at very early age to insure
the best development of the milking
IuUClIOuSs OlllGIS JdAC q OlICNIIy VIZ
posite view and prefer a COW to be
quite well-matured and state that only
in such animals are the milk-produc-
ting functions the most highly devel-
oped. Some who raise dairy cattle
feed their calves only bulky feed and
in rather scant quantities. Others
feed largely with grain and grow
them as rapidly as possible. Some
hold that if heifer of dairy breed
is allowed to get fat when young she
develops tendency to use her food
for body fat all her life rather than
to produce milk. Others hold that the
dairy qualities of COW are not in
f1uenced in any way by the method OF
feeding when young and that no harm
comes from heifer being fat. Some
desire to develop the largest animals
possible for the breed. Others prefer
cows medium-sized or small for the
breed.
There must be some general law or
laws in regard to these points that
can be found by experimental work.
Apparently there are number Of
questions along this line which cannot
be answered definitely as a result of
common observations or there would
not be this wide difference of opinion.
Having these facts in mind, the Mis-
4souri agricultural experiment station
In 1905 undertook an investigation for
the purpose of determining, if possi-
.Elle. some of the principles upon which
practical methods of raising dairy
cows should be based. 1t was thought
that by raising dairy heifers in the
University of Missouri herd under diff
ferent conditions and keeping full rec
,ords from birth until the COW had
been in. milk two years it would be
possible to come to some more definite
conclusion regarding the possible in
duence of the treatment when young
upon the future usefulness of the ami
mai for dairy purposes.
The general conclusion from the
work of the Missouri agricultural ex-
pertinent station investigations is that
at is possible to influence the rate of
growth size when mature, and type
to some extent, by the liberality OF, the
ration during the growing period, and
the age at first calving. Within linn
Its of variation, even far beyond the
normal, the character of the ration
with reference to amount of nutrients
supplied does not exert any appreci-
able effect upon the milking functions
of the COW when mature"