CHAPTER XXI 



BUYING AND SELLING DAIRY CATTLE 

 FITTING FOR SALE AND SHOW 



Grade Cattle 



We should figure our income principally on the receipts from the 

 milk produced by our cows every day. That should really be the 

 foundation of our business. Therefore, the utmost attention must 

 be paid to feeding, breeding, care and handling of our herds. How- 

 ever, the buying and selling of cows will always be a big factor in 

 the money success of the dairy farmer. 



290. Buying grade cows. — When we go to buy cows we should 

 look for size, evidences of production, and a good amount of flesh. 

 It is always a good thing to buy some feed along with a springer. 

 If she is too thin she will not carry through in her next lactation 

 to the best advantage. The lesser price at which the thin cow can 

 be bought will not pay for the feed that will be necessary to put 

 her back into condition to do the best at the pail. 



291. Disease. — Find out if you can the health history of the 

 herd from which you buy cows. Buy only tuberculin tested animals. 

 Buy only from herds that are free from abortion. It is a big job 

 to find herds that are as clean as we suggest, but it will pay to look 

 further and pay a little more to get this kind of stock. Because if 

 we are to carry out our plans and breed these cows, they must be 

 clean when we get them. If we buy springers and are going to save 

 their heifer calves, we must get cows that are bred to good pure 

 bred bulls. 



Wisconsin probably sells more grade cattle than any other state 

 in the Union. Professor G. C. Humphrey and A. O. Collentine, in 

 a circular published in October, 1922, summarize what good buyers 

 demand. 



292. Dairy cattle market demands. — " Buyers demand cer- 

 tain standard conditions that will enable them to buy most con- 



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