FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 583 



I have thus far only spoken of the benefit which the cow owner re- 

 ceives by weeding out his herd, but there is another great factor which 

 enters into the profit side of dairying. At the present time there is a 

 great demand for dairy sires to head the herds. In purchasing a sire 

 the buyer should demand a milk record of his dams and grand dams. 

 There are a few breeders who have been keeping production records. As 

 a result they can demand a high price for their calves, because with each 

 individual they can give a complete record of his or her ancestors. Many 

 farmers are receiving from $25.00 to $75.00 more for their calves because 

 the scales and Babcock test furnish an accurate record. 



The problem of improving the dairy herds should concern every farmer, 

 regardless of how many cows he milks. The present neglect in this sub- 

 ject and the great loss through poor cows each year means many thousands 

 of dollars to the state. Shall we continue to go blindly through the next 

 generation as we have in the past? 



THE PUKE BRED SIEE. 



The economical improvement of the herd after the cows have been 

 selected is best accomplished by the use of a pure bred sire. Many dairy- 

 men of today consider too seriously the cost of a good animal, and as a 

 result lose sight of the future profits which are in store for them. Al- 

 though there are undoubtedly many good dairy bulls which are not regis- 

 tered, yet the man who contemplates the purchase of a bull to head the 

 herd should select an animal that is registered. 



One who wishes to purchase a dairy bull has two types from which 

 to choose. The one is the pure bred whose pedigree shows the records of 

 his ancestors and their breeding; the other is the grade or scrub that 

 may have had good milk producing ancestors, but probably not. On 

 one hand we are sure of the animal's dairy qualities, while on the other 

 there is uncertainty. The average pure bred sire to head a grade herd 

 costs about $150.00, although owing to the demand these animals are 

 gradually becoming more expensive. The grade sire can be purchased 

 for $40.00. Here is the stumbling block of most dairymen who have 

 not had experience with both bulls. The interest on the pure bred for 

 five years, which is the period of time we will consider, at seven per 

 cent amounts to $52.50, while that on the scrub for the same time, at 

 the same rate, will be $14.00, again giving the scrub the advantage. Fig- 

 uring the insurance at eight per cent for the pure bred and ten per cent 

 for the scrub, we have this item amounting to $30.00 for the former and 

 $10.00 for the latter. The insurance rate on the pure bred is less than that 

 on the scrub because of the greater care the more valuable animal is 

 likely to receive. Summing ulp, we find that the entire cost of the pure 

 bred sire in five years is $82.50, and that of the scrub $24.00. It is 

 reasonable to estimate that each bull would produce sixty daughters in 

 the five years. Dividing the extra cost of $58.50 of the pure bred among 

 the sixty daughters, makes them each cost nine cents more than those 

 of the scrub. Considering that the pure bred as a rule is much more 



