CHOPS FOR DAIRY FARMS. 59 



v/ere borne by one cow within twelve months, and six of 

 them survived. This cow had twenty-five calves at eight 

 births, one producing six, but none of them lived. 



Accidents of birth are rare among cows which are well 

 cared for and kept in good condition. In nearly ever 

 case of mal-presentation and difficult parturition, the 

 cause has been traced to cliasing by dogs, injury by other 

 cows, or some violent accident. Extreme care should be 

 taken to avoid such accidents, which are all preventable. 



In the case of twin births, the popular belief that 

 twins of opposite sexes are sexually imperfect is supported 

 by observation and facts. But when the twins are both of 

 one sex they are normally perfect in this respect. When 

 a male and female calf are twinned, the female is almost 

 always imperfectly formed and will not breed. Such 

 females are popularly known as free martins and may be 

 considered worthless for breeding. 



CHAPTER V. 



CROPS FOR DAIRY FARMS. 



The feeding of the stock is of paramount importance 

 in the dairy, and a suitable selection of crops for feeding 

 is one of the subjects which require careful study. Some 

 crops are more productive than others, and are conse- 

 quently more profitable. As a rule the dairyman should 

 aim to grow fodder and not grain, purchasing the grain 

 and other concentrated foods with the proceeds of the 

 larger crops of fodder grown. Fodder cannot be pur- 

 chased, it is too bulky for carriage, and no farmer has 

 any surplus of it to spare ; but grain-feeding substances 

 cim be often purchased more cheaply than they can be 

 i^rown. Hence it is that the question of crops for fodder 

 becomes of great importance to the dairyman. 



