408 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



determining the dairy qualities of heifer calves than the bull. While 

 we may, by careful selection of cows, maintain a uniformly high stand- 

 ard of excellence in our herds, most of the real imi^rovement must 

 come by mating them with the right kind of a sire. I have observed 

 over and over again the qualities of a cow, the shape ®f her udder, 

 her temperament, her conformation, and numerous little individual 

 peculiarities, to be close reproductions of the same characters in the 

 dam of her sire. Breeders do not realize as they should the value of a 

 superior bull; they are often careless and indifferent in his selection. 

 The possibilities for improvement or injury do not occur to them. Or, 

 if in a general way farmers concede the advantage of a choice bull over 

 a common one, they tremendously underrate it. If this idea were 

 expressed in dollars and cents, perhaps its reality would be more 

 impressive. 



A common bull in four years' time in a 20-cow dairy begets 80 

 calves. If of this number 25 are reared to maturity, possessing the 

 common qualities of their parentage, and are worth a common price, 

 say $32 each, they represent a value of $800. Without attempting 

 to determine at> this time whether cows can be profitably reared to 

 maturity for $32 each, let us observe what would be the value of the 

 progeny of a superior sire. On the same basis of reproduction, and 

 with the same number of heifers reared, but with the choice progeny 

 of superior stock, we may reasonably expect a value of $50 each. In- 

 stead of an $800 aggregate, we have $1,250,^ — a difference of $450, 

 without increasing the cost of production a penny. If we go still fur- 

 ther, and produce a grade of heifers worth $75 each at maturity; if 

 we use our choice prepotent sire more freely, and secure the best of 

 his jDrogeny from our neighbors' cows, and rear not 25 but 50 or 100 

 heifers, his value becomes not $450 greater than that of the scrub, but 

 $1,075, $2,150 or $4,200. Not only will the use of a choice bull and 

 the rearing of $75 cows be more profitable than common breeding, 

 but it will reflect on all our business. We shall be more interested, 

 nay, even enthusiastic; the drudgery of farming will disappear. In- 

 stead of teasing buyers to take our common stuff off our hands at a 

 loss, we shall see them eagerly persuading us to part with them by 

 tempting offers. How easy it is to sell what people want ! How hard 

 to dispose of that for which there is no demand ! 



Feeding. 

 The economical feeding of cows is a large subject in itself, and can 

 barely be mentioned in a short paper of this kind. The two points of 

 kind and amount of foods to be used belong to the topic. As to kind 

 in general, feeds should be produced upon the farm as largely as pos- 

 sible, and purchased feeds should be selected to supplement the home- 

 grown supply. Usually this means the purchase of feeds rich in 

 protein, paying little attention to the carbonaceous sorts on the mar- 



