The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-08-23
Developing the Dairy Heifer.
By H. M. Tucker, Asst. Bureau Of Ami
NAL Industry.

BY II. M. Tucker, Asst. Bureau of Ami
NAL Industry.
The most critical period of Calls
life, if life alone is considered, is the first
six months. However, if the future
usefulness Of the heifer as dairy COW is
the point considered, then. the critical
period is between the time she is weaned
from milk and the time she drops her
first calf. l believe a good dairy COW
can oftentimes be made or ruined during
this period of her life.
Space will not permit going into de-
tail in this short article as to the best
method of development; but wish to
call attention to some of the essentials.
First, health. Given the same oppor-
tunity for education, which is the better
fitted for life's work, youth bred and
reared in the country or in the city?
The country fellow, of course, because
OF the health and strength gained from
the pure air and the exercise of life in
the open. The body is developed with
full, strong lungs and hard muscles,
which, once attained, will prove a great
asset all through life.
The same is true of the young dairy
stock while being raised. The tie-up,
plenty of grain, blankets and grooming
will turn out beautiful heifer for the
show ring, but should not be carried too
far if you want profitable COW in after
years. Give as much exercise as. posi-
BILE, winter as we'll as summer. The next
essential is feed-feed that will produce
growth and proper development Feed,
at all times, should be abundant, so that
as much growth as possible may be at
tanned before the heifer begins her life of
usefulness as dairy cow; but her feed
should not be given in a concentrated
form, or at least as little of it as may be,
In summer, the pasture should be so
abundant that the heifer can make a
good growth without any grain. Even
II the heifer lost some of the fat and
bloom she had before being put out to
pasture, l should not worry. If, how
ever, the pasture is poor, or becomes soy
from dry weather, and the heifer does
not get enough to make a good growth,
then something should be done; but ideal
conditions would be good pasture where
the heifer would make a good, steady
growth of body, although perhaps losing
some superfluous fat. Then, in the fall,
take her out of the pasture before short
feed and cold storms tell on her MANY
farmers make great mistake right here
in letting the young stock run for
month or six weeks after they should
have dry shed to sleep in and some
extra roughage for feed
Winter care should also include plenty
of fresh air and exercise consider
shed with plenty of air space, but per-
fectlY tight so as to avoid drafts, with
doors on the south side opening into
yard to which they can have free access
every pleasant day, the ideal winter
quarters for growing heifers Her feed
should consist for the most part of
roughage, the idea being to develop
paunch capacity so that in future years
she will have well-developed digestive
machine, capable of handling large GUAM
titles of raw material and turning out
proportionally large amount of market
able product. Do not, however think
that the heifer can be fed on meadow
hay or straw to develop her, for she
must develop something else as we'll as
the size of her stomach. She must be
kept growing, consequently the yery
best roughage is none too good. Good,
early-cut clover hay or second crop with
good corn silage, will do the trick, and
with small grain composed of bran,
ground oats and linseed meal, will make
large, handsome heifers, with the vieor
and conformation for future usefulness.
When the heifer is within four months
OF freshening, one should begin to in
crease the grain ration until, for the last
TWO months, at least, the heifer receives
from eight to twelve pounds of grain per
day, according to the size of the animal.
and the last month this ration should be
changed gradually to one containing
more protein, Gearer, in fact, to what
she will receive after she freshens. This
extra grain before freshening, you will
lind to be wonderfully good invest
ment, and it will return you big interest.
provided, of course, that you have the
making of a dairy animal. With a
bred in" dairy tendency, the larger and
fatter you can get the heifer before she
drops her first calf the better producer
she will make.-Maine Department of
Agriculture, John A. Roberts, Commits
sioner.
Augusta, August II. 1917