176 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



the calves. The careful dairyman sees in every heifer calf 

 the possibility of a cow that will not only replace a discarded 

 member of his herd, but help to raise the average production. 

 By proper care in the choice of the sire, and by careful atten- 

 tion to the rearing of the calves, the dairyman who is com- 

 pelled to start with a herd of ordinary quality may, within 

 a few years, raise the average of production of his herd to a 

 marked extent. On the other hand, carelessness in breeding 

 and in calf raising is bound to result disastrously to a herd, 

 or at least to keep it at a standstill, as far as improvement 

 is concerned. 



One of the common mistakes made in the localities where 

 whole milk is sold for market purposes or to condenseries or 

 cheese factories is the failure to raise any calves. In this 

 case the milk producer depends upon buying cows to replace 

 those discarded from his herd. The excuse for this practice 

 is that the cost of raising the cows is too great . Under such a 

 system a dairyman will almost invariably produce milk year 

 after year without improving the standard of his herd in the 

 least. When more cows are required, they are purchased from 

 a shipper or dealer, and without any information available 

 regarding the merits of the animals beyond what can be 

 determined from appearance. The dairy cows placed on the 

 market through such channels are almost certain to be of 

 very ordinary grade, since a cow whose value as a milk pro- 

 ducer is known is not offered for sale at the market price. 



In a few localities the practice is even worse, inasmuch as 

 the cows are purchased when about to calve, and are milked 

 but a single milking period, and are then fattened when the 

 milk flow slackens, and sold for beef. In this way the 

 general average of production is exceedingly low, and the 



