CATTLE PRODUCTION 15 



It will cost less to raise heifers than it will to buy cows. 



The home raised heifers generally develop into better and more profitable 

 cows than most of those which can be purchased. 



Raising the dairy herd lessens the danger from contagious abortion, tu- 

 berculosis and other infectious diseases. 



A comparatively young herd may be kept from which surplus animals can be 

 sold at profitable prices. 



Good dairy calves are secured from the best cows of the herd mated to 

 good, pure bred dairy sires. A calf must be well born as well as properly raised 

 to become the right kind of a dairy cow. Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon 

 cows of good type and production capacity and sires that are of the best type 

 and breeding. Knowing the best cows in the herd and being particular to save 

 and raise well their heifer calves is the best way to get a profit-producing 

 dairy herd. 



Judging Dairy Cows. The most successful dairyman is a good judge of 

 dairy cattle. The ability to select profitable from unprofitable cows has always 

 been a strong factor in successful dairying and in the future it will be even more 

 necessary for men who engage in dairying to become good judges of dairy cows. 



Although the consumption of milk and milk products is constantly increasing 

 and the demand for bred-for-milk-and-butter-fat-production-cattle growing, the 

 cost of feed and labor and the price of land is also rapidly increasing thus making 

 it all the more necessary for the farmer to have better cows. It is becoming more 

 and more important for him to know the family history of the cow, whether her 

 ancestors were pure bred or grade and whether they were exceptional milkers 

 or just ordinary or even poor producers. 



The farmer who is a good judge of dairy cattle gains many advantages : 

 Makes fewer mistakes in buying cattle. 

 Gets better prices for his surplus stock. 

 Selects and builds up a herd of cows of uniform size, type, breed and 



quality. 



Receives a higher and more uniform production of milk and butter fat. 

 Makes greater returns over and above the cost of feed and care. 

 Uses better sires and secures better calves. 



Has better success in feeding and showing cattle at fairs and exposi- 

 tions. 



Has greater satisfaction and pleasure in owning and managing a dairy 



herd. 



Profit-Producing Cows. A ready acquaintance with the qualifications 

 for dairy type previously named, as well as with the line of breeding represented, 

 will aid the dairyman in selecting profit-producing cows. It, of course, should 

 be admitted that even the most expert judges of dairy cattle are unable, by rely- 

 ing solely upon the appearance to the eye and a study of family records, to fore- 

 tell a cow's ability to produce milk and butter fat. That, in the end, is only 

 told by the use of the milk scales and the Babcock tester. 



Experiments and experience have shown clearly that as a rule, cows which 

 possess certain so-called dairy characteristics are more economical producers of 



