REARING CALVES FOR THE DAIRY. 185 



menfc the calves are developed into more useful and pro- 

 ductive animals than their dams, until in course of time 

 the improvement becomes fixed and is inherited by the 

 progeny. It is in this way that the improved breeds 

 liave been made up. The Shorthorn cattle have been 

 thus trained and educated — this word means literally 

 ''lead out" or brought out — for over a hundred years, 

 until they have become the finest beef cattle in existence. 

 The Ayrshires have thus been made a most excellent 

 dairy breed, and the defects of the original race have 

 been bred out by selection and care in the breeding of 

 the young stock. The Jerseys have been brought up in 

 size, productiveness and beauty during the past thirty 

 years by the same process, until they have become greatly 

 increased in value ; and so it has been and is with other 

 races. A herd of our common native cattle has been im- 

 proved during the short space of seven years until their 

 product has been doubled and their appearance greatly 

 changed. The produce of one cow in this time will num- 

 ber about sixteen animals in five generations, and a great 

 deal can be done in these repeated breedings. The 

 choice of a pure bred bull of some acknowledged dairy 

 breed and of good character should however be made, 

 and in three or four years the progeny, if well selected, 

 will then partake of the good qualities of the pure breed. 

 Half bred Jersey, Gruernsey or Ayrshire calves have been 

 found equally valuable for product with the pure bred 

 ones, and, as a rule, these half bred calves, from well se- 

 lected sires and the best native cows, will be found on 

 an average to be superior for product to an average of 

 the pure bred cows. Such has been the experience 

 of dairymen who have thus started on a course of im- 

 provement of their common stock. 



The calf thus well bred must be well fed and trained. 

 It is by no means necessary that the calf should be fed 

 upon fresh milk from the cow. Cream ai i fat are not 



