138 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The better way to do would probably be to screen your windows 

 with some coarse material and then turn the calves out into a 

 paddock at night when the flies will not bother them, and put 

 them back in the morning. 



I suppose the question, At what age should we breed our 

 dairy heifers? is asked 100 times a year. There is no definite 

 answer that can be given. I simply say, breed them so that 

 they will freshen about the time they are mature. I think it 

 depends more upon the man who is feeding the calves than 

 upon any other one thing. The breed of course makes a dif- 

 ference, also.. We know that the Jersey, for instance, matures 

 considerably earlier than some of the larger breeds, like the 

 Holstein-Friesian. From general observation I do not think 

 it is advisable to breed the heifer so that she will freshen much 

 before she is two years of age. I would like to call this to 

 your attention, — that there is a great difference in the indi- 

 vidual so far as maturity is concerned. Two heifers starting 

 out just the same when calves, when they reach 27 or 30 months 

 of age will vary in regard to maturity. One will take on the 

 mature form, the cow form, while the other one perhaps will 

 still look like a large calf. I believe this is more a matter of 

 inheritance than anything else, and you must study the indi- 

 viduals. 



Now the question comes up, What about feeding the heifer 

 while she is carrying the foetus, or what about feeding the dry 

 cow? If there is any one point in the feeding of the dairy 

 cow that should be given more attention, I think it is the feeding 

 ■ of the dry cow, getting her in shape so that she can do the work 

 after she freshens. I have seen so many times, not only in 

 this State but in other states, instances where as soon as the 

 cow went dry a large portion of the food was cut off. When 

 we do that we are robbing ourselves, as well as the cow. If 

 we do not feed the heifer while she is carrying the calf we are 

 robbing her and indirectly robbing ourselves. The udder of 

 the dry cow, as you all know, looks like a large mass of cellular 

 tissue, pinkish yellow in color. There are little ducts running 

 all though it. When the cow is dry those are contracted. If 

 she' has not a fleshy udder it is naturally much smaller than 

 vx'hen she is giving milk. We have got to increase this in size. 

 We must get up steam so that when we start off with our work 



