385 



duction is of great importance. Many farmers with common 

 cattle are desirous of entering the dairy business. Their prob- 

 lem is to decide which method of entry is the better, "buying 

 in," or "growing in." Everyone knows that a good dairy herd 

 can be bought, but many have found that this method is not 

 only expensive, if really good cows are secured, but hazardous, 

 due to the introduction of diseases. Many also buy up a herd 

 before they learn from experience that proper feed and manage- 

 ment must be given to the animals. The question of greatest im- 

 portance and frequently asked is, "Can such a herd be pro- 

 duced from a foundation of common cows where the initial ex- 

 pense is the price of a good purebred dairy sire ? " It is important 

 that this question be answered satisfactorily and with assurance 

 of final success and also of a reasonable income from the heifers 

 resulting from the mating with the first purebred sire, before 

 many farmers will attempt to build up eificient and economical 

 dairy herds, using as the foundation the cows they already own. 

 OBJECTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION 



In this investigation it is attempted to determine the influence 

 of purebred dairy sires in increasing the production from a 

 foundation of scrub cows as well as the effect of improved feed- 

 ing and management. In order that other influencing factors 

 might be brought to a minimum, scrub cows from an isolated 

 region of Arkansas were selected for the basis of this work in 

 1907. The work is still in progress and the data presented in 

 this publication are in the form of a preliminary report, taking 

 all records completed up to the end of 1915. Many of the daugh- 

 ters of the scrub cows are not mature and heifers carrying 75% 

 of the blood of a recognized dairy breed have not as yet gone thru 

 a lactation period. 



Stated in detail the objects of this work were agreed upon as 

 follows : 



1. To determine the effects of improved feeding and care and 

 whether or not there would be an increase in production in the 

 second and succeeding years due to the residual and continued 

 effects of improved feeding and the development of the digestive 

 and mammary systems. 



2. To compare the records of heifers sired by a scrub bull 

 with the records of their dams. 



3. To determine the influence of purebred dairy sires on the 

 production of milk and butter fat. 



4. To compare scrub with grade calves in rate of growth and 

 digestive powers. 



ANIMALS USED 



In the summer of 1907 Prof. H. G. Van Pelt purchased in an 

 isolated region of Arkansas seven cows, four yearling heifers, 

 two heifer calves and a young bull. These animals were inferior 

 individuals, being rather small, of very limited abdominal, udder 



