9 March, 1908.] Breeding for the Dairy. 149 



the official records and are beyond question. The winner was 70 days 

 in milk when the test began ; and in her last 7 days she gave 32 gallons 

 of milk containing 17.3 lbs. of butter fat. 



Coming closer to home we find the Jersey blood very prominent in 

 the herds of many of the .suburban dairymen, particularly in the southern 

 suburbs where cold winter winds are prevalent. The grazing areas there 

 are limited, and it is compulsory with the dairymen to have cows that 

 will produce the largest quantity of good quality milk at least cost; and 

 the Jersey is their choice. In anv country or climate where dairying 

 is carried on under profitable and scientific conditions this breed is in 

 evidence ; and w'hen any competition is held to test the quality of the 

 dairy stock, the Jerseys can always be depended on to make a good 

 showing, if they are not in every instance the actual winners. That 

 they also consume comparatively much less food than other cattle for the 

 quantity of milk produced was also conclusively proved bv the St. Louis 

 competition, — the 25 Jerseys there being superior to 28 of the next best 

 competing cows in this advantage. 



The fact that the Jersey has been continuously bred for butter and 

 milk production for considerably over a century is the cause of the 

 wonderful prepotency which the bulls show in implanting the dairying 

 qualities of the breed in their offspring when used in crossing ; and each 

 succeeding cross of this blood that raises the grade of their stock nearer 

 to the pure Jersey usually shows improvement in the desired direction. 



As to the size of the steers being against the use of the breed on a 

 dairy farm, this is only a' loss in imagination. Very few dairy-farmers 

 who raise their own stock can afford to waste grazing room in raising 

 steers. There has been many a steer sold from a farm at a good price 

 that would have paid still better if it had never been raised ; for its 

 food and room could have been put to better use. A well grown 3 year 

 old springer of a good milking strain is worth more to the dairyman 

 than any steer of the same age ; and if proper care is given it will 

 return him a yearly profit to the same value for several seasons after- 

 wards. All such calves as the small dairy-farmer does not require to 

 raise for future milking or breeding purposes he will most profitably dis- 

 pose of bv selling for whatever thev will bring as small vcalers at from 

 five to eight weeks old. The producer of milk and butter should leave 

 the raising of beef to those who have the combined acreage and natural 

 pasture for the purpose. Besides this actual gain in growing milkers 

 in place of b®ef there is therefore a very significant saving effected each 

 year in hand feeding by the farmer who has the smaller framed coavs ; 

 for dairy cattle must be so fed for some portion of each year if they are 

 to be kept up to their full limit of production; and, if to this saving is 

 added the very feasible probability of the Jersey cow giving a better 

 percentage of butter fat the year through than a coarser animal, she will 

 have sufficient in her favour to warrant her owner spending the price of 

 a rug on her many times over. 



As previously suggested, this advocacy of the Jersey is not intended 

 to apply to the fortunate dairyman who has built up a line of large 

 framed milkers, and has both the extent and quality of grazing area to 

 profitably carry them ; but, where acreage is limited, and anv length\ 

 term of hand feeding is necessary throughout the year, the Jersey is 

 without a doubt " the dairyman's cow." 



