48 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



can have a cool dark basement or similar place into which they 

 can go to escape the heat and flies. Any place that is dark will 

 cause the flies to leave the animals. When the heifer is brought 

 into the barn from pasture she should receive all the hay of the 

 best quality available she will clean up, also all the silage she will 

 eat if it is available, and four to six pounds of grain a day. 



84. Breeding the heifer. — About this time the farmer faces 

 the question as to when the heifer shall be bred. This is a point 

 on which there is a considerable difference of opinion. It is our 

 belief that the heifer should be bred to drop her first calf from 

 twenty-four to thirty months of age. Of course, the breeder must 

 be guided somewhat by the size and state of development of the 

 individual, and he should also remember that Guernseys and 

 Jerseys may be bred somewhat earlier than the slower-maturing 

 Holsteins, Ayrshires and Brown Swiss. 



In favor of early breeding it should be remembered that until 

 the heifer becomes a milk producer she yields no income. The 

 condition of pregnancy has a marked stimulating effect on her 

 development and experience indicates that milk-secreting capacity 

 is favored by early breeding. Of course, it is recognized that the 

 production of the foetus temporarily checks growth, but con- 

 stantly recurring periods of heat may have just as great a retard- 

 ing effect on her development. 



We have recommended the liberal feeding of young stock. This 

 is particularly important for the heifer as soon as she is a few 

 months along with calf. Give her all the legume hay and silage 

 she will; clean up, and four to six pounds of grain a day. The 

 mixture to which we have previously referred (59) will prove 

 satisfactory here. Another used with good results is as follows: 

 500 lbs. gluten feed 400 lbs. wheat bran 



500 lbs. ground oats 100 lbs. oil meal 



500 lbs. hominy feed 



We could sum up our discussion of the feeding and management 

 of heifers by saying: " Feed liberally and breed early." All that 

 we have said in the raising of calves and in the feeding of yearlings 

 and two-year-olds applies to the bulls as well as to the heifers. 



