The Ordway new era., 1917-06-29
Dairy Farming
and Its Benefits
(Continued)


Foundation of Herd-A desirable
combination is to buy the number of
cows desired and good animals of the
sort determined in advance. II ones
means will permit, include few su-
perior cows and hrst-class bull at
any rate. Let the cows selected be
such as have had two calves, and per-
haps three, SO that they may be
judged by their own development and
yet be young enough to improve and
be in full profit for some years. With
a good herd thus formed, begin at
once the work of Improvement by
breeding and selection. Sell prompt
ly any COW which proves unsatisfac-
tory and replace her by the best in
crease of the herd or purchase occa-
sionally an animal which will raise
the average quality.
Quality of Stock-A diaryman can
hardly be advised to buy at once
full stock of purebred cattle of any
breed, If his sole object and depend
ence for profit is to be the dairy pro-
duct of the herd. Such a venture
will necessitate large investment, and
should include the breeding of reg
istered animals, for sale at renumera-
tive prices, as part of the business.
Well bred and we'll selected grade
cows of the line of blood desired
seems to be the most profitable ami
mails for the practical dairyman, or
at least the best to begin with. If
enterprising and progressive, the
owner will hardly be content with
grades only. He may begin with on
ly his bull pure bred; presently he
will want a registered COW to match.
then one or two more. Thus he will
be steadily and properly working to-
ward purcly-bred herd. If the
breed chosen is the right one for the
object sought. it will soon be found
that the more of this blood the herd
contains the better.
Starting with half-breed cows (the
offspring of pure-bred bulls and
dams of mixed or uncertain BLOODY ,
the next grade. three-fourths pure.
will prove better dairy stock, II the
bull is what he should be and the in
crease has been culled. Another
step higher is better still. better for
the dairy. and SO the grading goes
up and Improvement goes on until
the blood of the herd is practically
pure. The best dairy results may thus
be reached, but the herd has a taint.
1t lacks pedigree. Its increase. how
ever excellent in dairy performance
must pass and sell as grades. The
owner feels this, and is pretty sure
to gradually replace his well-bred
cows, almost pure bred, with fully
pedigreed and registered animals
This end is reached sooner and easier
by starting with one or two register
ed females, and, of course, a register
ed bull.
Moderate Investment and the less
ened risk of loss in the hands of one
unaccustomed to handling registered
stock, and finding a market for the
surplus, doubtless favor grades for
the dairy herd. The argument and
the probabilities of success, based
up on the fixed principles of breeding
are on the side of pure-bred register
ed stock In the hands of expert
enced men the latter prove the more
profitable in actual practice.
Buying Registered Cattle-In these
days any dairyman who wants regis
tered animals of any of the approved
breeds can get them II he will but
make the effort. The beginner in
registered dairy stock can not be toe
strongly urged to buy and breed on
the basis of individual and. family
merit and dairy record. and not on
pedigree alone. Pedigree is of value
and should be well studied; it Is the
best guaranty that the calves to
come will make good cows. But the
pedigree should be supported by uni
form excellence in the family and by
evidence of merit in the particular
animals bought.
ITO be continued next weekly