STOCK. 165 



young stock to be impregnated for the first time by any " runt 

 of a bull," simply to bring them "into milk," when, if they 

 prove good milkers, will then breed them with a full blood. 

 This is a bad method and should never be done, for the first 

 calf, if the rules of proper breeding are observed, is equally 

 valuable as those born later, while the chances of transmitting 

 the poor qualities of the first bull are greatly increased. 



It is an old proverb " that from nothing nothing can come." 

 Begin, therefore, from the first start with the very best that 

 you can possibly obtain, then improve as rapidly as possible. 

 The present breeds are, undoubtedly, vastly superior to those 

 which have preceded them. But that is no reason why there 

 should be no further efibrt for improvement, and a race of ani- 

 mals be produced that, for dairj^ purposes, shall far exceed 

 their ancestors in their large and generous milking qualities. 



In breeding milch cows the disposition of the animals should 

 never be overlooked. A quiet, gentle, docile disposition is of 

 the first importance in a cow. An animal which is to be 

 handled so much and so often should be as free as possible 

 from all ugliness of temper. A cross, kicking, irritable milker 

 is to say the least undesirable. So, also, is a nervous, high- 

 strung, fretful creature. Undoubtedly a great deal of this in- 

 tractability is owing to their edncation. Still something is 

 due to the natural inherent qualities of disposition and tem- 

 perament. 



These mental and moral qualities should, therefore, receive 

 due attention in raising such stock, and in their education the 

 utmost care should be exercised in restraining and correcting 

 the bad qualities and developing good ones. Beginning early 

 in their calfhood, dealing gently with them, by kindness and 

 soothing treatment even bad tempers may be made mild and 

 good ones improved. 



A quiet, gentle, contented animal is not only more desirable 

 for handling, but can be more easily kept and at less cost. 

 Possessed of a quiet disposition she will be less likely to be 

 afiected by her surroundings, and calmly " lives her life away," 

 happily, contentedly and usefully. 



The second requisite, is the care, which such stock receives, 

 in developing and increasing their milking qualities. The 

 good sense of every intelligent farmer would naturally suggest 



