3(58 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



In both cases breeds become of secondary importance. A 

 close study of the cost of the product desired from individ- 

 ual animals is the only way by which one can open the way 

 to larger yield and less expense. Profitable cows are to be 

 bred, not purchased. Herds are to be established, not 

 picked up. The dominating will of an objective mind, filled 

 with a high ideal of quantity or quality, alone can breed up 

 to that standard of profit consistent with good business. 

 Males are to be selected with sole reference to their virile 

 energy and prepotent powers to transmit, in exceptional 

 degree, the tendencies which, under wise guidance, may be 

 developed into fixed habits. Profitable dairy herds or ani- 

 mals are not accidents. 



Viewing the problem from the business stand-point, the 

 greatest saving in our milk or butter departments will come 

 by a strict application of the law of selection of individuals, 

 the sharp weeding out of non-profitable cows, the breeding 

 of future herds from sires and dams of pronounced merit, 

 and the casting one side of all calves which do not give evi- 

 dence of vitality and promise of great production. Color 

 of markings plays no part in the consideration of the ques- 

 tion from a milk or butter stand-point ; but quality of hair 

 and skin, evidence of udder, size and location of teats, 

 looseness of tissue about the udder, thickness of abdominal 

 wall and size of navel are points not to be passed over care- 

 lessly. Future cows will carry the evidences of worth at 

 birth in udder structure and conformation, while the story 

 of endurance may be read in the strength of the abdominal 

 wall about the umbilicus. It does not pay to raise heifer 

 calves upon a chance basis. 



Breeders of pure-bred stock must follow sharply the re- 

 quirements of the standard established by their associations, 

 and combine fancy and utility ; but the milk maker has the 

 single standard of business by which to measure the indi- 

 vidual heifer or cow. On my desk lies a letter from a milk 

 maker, who in six years has built up the cows of his herd 

 from six to nine, ten, twelve and thirteen thousand pounds 

 of milk each per year. One cow, which gave 9,474 pounds 

 in 1899, increased to 13,708 in 1900, and in 194 days, from 



