INTRODUCTION 

 THE GENERAL PROBLEMS OF DAIRY FARMING 



The great problem in dairy farming is to breed better cows that 

 will produce more milk at less cost and that will produce offspring 

 that will sell for more money. We have addressed ourselves to this 

 problem frankly. More profit from the cows will mean " better 

 farming, better business, better living." 



1. The problem of feeding. — A cow inherits what she will be 

 from her dam and sire. The development of that inheritance 

 depends on the feed and handling that she gets. In Part I we have 

 treated this feeding and development through the year-round 

 cycle, starting with the cow as soon as she has dried up and carry- 

 ing her through the entire lactation period, both in the barn and 

 on pasture. The development of the young stock is a part of our 

 problem. Some of the finer points in feeding high production 



fsfor records are studied. 



2. Buying and distributing feed.— Buying feed and the 

 distribution of feeds co-operatively are treated fully. We must not 

 forget that one of the main parts of feeding dairy cattle is the 

 correct selection and purchase of the raw materials of the ration. 

 Co-operative effort on the part of farmers in solving their problems 

 is new. We have given, in Chapter VIII, a brief history of its 

 development in the purchase of feeds. 



3. The problem of better cows.— The unit of success in 

 better dairy farming is the cow. Therefore, we have named 

 Part II "The Cow," and have contributed what we know to help 

 form an ideal in the minds of our readers with some suggestions 

 as to how to realize that ideal. All the dairy breeds are briefly 

 described. By a study of the leading types of cows and their 

 records we may learn how far progress has gone in successful units 

 in each breed up to the present. 



4. The problem of better bulls.— The real problems of 

 better dairy farming come in the department of breeding. We 



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