CATTLE PRODUCTION 13 



DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT. 



Dairying as an Industry. Dairy cattle and milk production is an in- 

 dustry in itself. The importance of milk and its by-products in supplying food 

 for the human race has resulted in much attention being given throughout the 

 entire country to breeding and maintaining herds of dairy cattle. The production 

 and distribution of dairy products, engages the attention of many organizations, 

 both of a local and a national character. Under suitable conditions dairying, 

 though accompanied by considerable expense and labor, is highly profitable. The 

 dairy cow utilizes farm grown crops for milk production economically, and 

 gives the farmer a return at regular and frequent intervals. Dairy farming 

 requires, however, an intelligent consideration of many details pertaining to the 

 selection, care and management of the herd and providing conditions that insure 

 milk products being handled in a manner to conform with standards that reg- 

 ulate it as a food product. The dairy cow has no competitor in producing 

 milk in large quantities for commercial purposes, and with the increase in 

 population there is every encouragement for the farmer who intelligently en- 

 gages in the business of dairying. 



Cows of Dairy Type and Breeds Essential for Success. Choosing cows 

 of dairy breed and type is fundamental to successful dairying. The development 

 of dairy breeds has been the result of high ideals and systematic effort on the 

 part of many generations of dairy men who realize the possibilities in a type of 

 cattle especially adapted for large and economical productions of milk and butter 

 fat. Cattle that are true representatives of the breeds generally recognized as 

 most suitable for dairy purposes, are a very distinct type from the ordinary native 

 cattle and cattle of the improved beef type. The distinct breeds of dairy cattle 

 tend to reproduce themselves from generation to generation with a marked 

 degree o-f uniformity and in this fact lies the importance of choosing high grade 

 or pure bred dairy cattle for dairy purposes. 



Characteristics of Dairy Cattle. Cattle of dairy type conform to the fol- 

 lowing peculiarities arid characteristics which enable them to produce large and 

 economical yields of milk : 



Medium to large size of body for the breed. 



Large feed capacity, as indicated by a roomy and capacious abdominal 

 cavity, a large mouth and sufficient strength of body to consume and utilize 

 a large quantity of feed. 



Dairy temperament or a disposition to convert the large portion of 

 feed consumed into milk rather than body flesh. It is indicated by the ab- 

 sence of surplus flesh and a comparatively lean and refined appearance of 

 the entire body. 



An udder that is large, carried well up to the body, evenly and normally 

 developed in all quarters and of good quality. 



A strong, healthy flow of blood to all parts of the body, giving vigor, 

 alertness and constitution. These characteristics are indicated by prominent 

 facial, udder and mammary veins, abundant secretions in the ears, skin of 

 the body and at the end of the tail and a coat of fine, straight hair. 



