The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-10-13
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 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 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
ortls) and developed by care and good
feeding. The beginner should consid-
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, to be successful, must
keep only such cows that pay q 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 1907. The COW that pro-
duces SOC profit over all expenses is
worth ten cows that produce no profit,
both as breeder and producer, and
should at least be valued at S1G0 to
$3.50.
Breeding Better Than Buying.
Some dairymen buy fresh cows,
breeding to 4 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 ore 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 dairymau
should always be prepared to buy one
that is better than what he has, bur
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
il 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
good advantage so that they will be
ouiet ana gentle and also healthy. He
will usually be able to build up a good
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 OF
if. Grade cows may range in value
from S25 to $3.50, and the sire that car
produce the latter kind is worth many
fines more than the one that pro
dnces the sos kind. If a heifer can be
produced that, when mature. will give
| 20 TO 100 pounds more butter or 1,oot
mounds more milk per year than hel
dam. the annual profit from such
heifer will accordingly be from $40 t(
so5 more than from the foundation
cow. If ten such heifers were RAISED
averv wear. the increased profit VII
no 500 TO $3.50 more per year; II =
beifers are raised, 500 to $500 viii bt
Gained each year by using good pun
consequently it is hard TO understand
how n progressive dairyman can aiforC
20 Ia+ a difference of 500 or so II
rho original cost of herd bull stanS
between him and an additional annua
income of $500. Yet dairymen will ou.
so5 scrub bulls that are worse thai
useless as improvers of their herds
while purebred males costing 700 u
$50 more would pay for themselve
many times over in the increased vaiu'
- ~, young stock produced. The sir
+bs+ cannot increase the value OF t1'
hard 4 dear at any price. While th'
owner Of a grade herd may be 1ustfe'
IN buying as high-priced sire as en'
| breeder Of pure breeds good ANNA
will always be cheapest in the end-
Selection Of Dairy Sire.
Only a purebred sire Should De useu
from ancestors of known merit ana o
nood breed type, masculinity and con
stitntiou. Select. If possible, the sol
~ ! frst-class dairy COW as the char
octsristics of the dam are most hkei'
- he reproduced in the heifers OF tn'
- generation. The best indication