HERD MANAGEMENT. 175 



records as heavy milkers, but that method is too expensive for the dairy- 

 man who must depend on the sale of dairy products for his income. Under 

 all ordinary circumstances it is better to begin by Buying the best herd 

 which can be afforded, and then to maintain and improve it by raising 

 calves from the best cows and occasionally buying a cow which is known to 

 be unusually good. As the herd increases beyond the desired limit, either 

 by breeding or by purchase, the inferior cows should be sold, so that the 

 quality of the herd as a whole will show a constant improvement. The 



\v 



HANNA MELCHIOR 43017-TYPICAL HOLSTE1N-FKIESIAN COW. 



?%f^ 



pounds fat. 



poorest cows in the herd should always be for sale at little more than their 

 beef value, while the best should always be kept until their penod < 

 fulness is past. 



When it is not possible to purchase pure bloods, the first cows pu 

 chased should be good grades of the breed selected. None but good ani- 

 mals should be purchased at any price, as a poor cow-one which * 

 yield at least 200 pounds of butter in a year, or its equivalent in milk will 

 little more than pay her board. A real lover of cattle (the only man who 



