CHAPTER X 

 STARTING A DAIRY HERD 



SELECTION OF BREED COMMUNITY BREEDING PRECAU- 

 TION AGAINST DISEASE 



THE first question that arises in starting a dairy herd is the 

 question of breed. The tendency is to attach too much im- 

 portance to this matter, as influencing the success of the ven- 

 ture. As already emphasized, the importance of making 

 use of a pure breed of some kind is more apt to be under than 

 overestimated. As a rule a man that will make a success 

 with one breed will be about equally successful with another. 

 The characteristics of the several breeds have been discussed 

 in a previous chapter, and a study of these descriptions will 

 enable a choice to be made. 



Some consideration must be given to the purpose for which 

 the product is to be used. For example, if milk is to be sold in 

 a market where richness is not recognized, breeds giving the 

 larger yield would naturally be the choice. If butter or 

 cream is the product to be marketed, other factors need to 

 be considered. 



It is impossible to give data that are satisfactory regarding 

 the relative production of the breeds. The best figures the 

 author has been able to gather are brought together in the 

 table which follows. These are yearly records of pure-bred 



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