74 FARM MANAGEMENT 



pitch. The milk records will show the effects 

 of different rations, and the cows' highest limit 

 of quantity and quality can soon be determined, 

 beyond which any extra food is superfluous, 

 and every cow has her limit in this respect. It 

 is poor policy to adopt a fixed ration for all 

 cows, big and little, as it will result in some 

 cows never' getting enough and others' more 

 than they need. 



The usual age for putting cows to the bull 

 is two years old, though it may be as low as 

 fifteen months, but heifers must be strong and 

 well-grown to be mated so early, as it is liable 

 to retard their growth. Many heifers are 

 mated at eighteen months old, and it is a 

 further incentive to aim at improvement in the 

 herd when it is possible to produce well-grown 

 heifers of sound constitution which will stand 

 this early mating, and thereby earn their living 

 earlier. 



