THE DAIRY HERD 23 



new blood is gradually accustomed to the change of 

 environment and the herdsman is given the necessary 

 time to change his methods to meet the requirements of 

 pure-bred cattle. 



Where the dairyman understands the management 

 of pure-bred stock and has the means with which to 

 purchase the right kind, a pure-bred herd may be started 

 to good advantage. 



One of the chief dangers in starting with^a pure- 

 bred herd is the lack of funds to procure the right sort 

 of animals. Instead of purchasing a pure-bred bull and 

 a number of pure-bred cows of common merit, it is better 

 policy to buy relatively cheap, grade cows, and to add the 

 money thus saved to that originally set aside for the bull. 

 This extra money is likely to be the means of securing a 

 bull of outstanding merit. 



III. BREEDING UP THE HERD. 



Importance of Sire. Whether the cows be grades or 

 pure-breds, it is of the highest importance in building up 

 a dairy herd to secure a pure-bred bull of outstanding 

 dairy merit. Unless the bull is descended from good milk- 

 ers it is folly to expect him to produce good milkers, no 

 matter how fine or ideal he may be as an individual. 



It is, furthermore, of importance to remember that a 

 herd cannot be successfully built up unless the bulls that 

 are successively used belong to the same breed. If the 

 grading up is begun with a Jersey bull the process must 

 be continued uninterruptedly by the use of Jersey blood. 



In the selection of a herd bull the points discussed in 

 the preceding chapter should be carefully considered. 



Selecting the Best Calves. With a first-class bull at 

 the head of the herd, rapid improvement is effected by 



