CHAPTER VI. 

 ON FEEDING AND PRODUCTION. 



The question of conformity of type as an index of utility in dairy 

 cattle that is. whether it can be relied on in indicating the merits 

 and defects of all our dairy animals or not has been often discussed. 

 It has not, however, been positively demonstrated on our show 

 grounds that, from a critical examination of the exterior points of an 

 animal, a fairly correct estimate can be made of the quality 01 the in- 

 terior or hidden points. Certainly, the study of the points of the 

 animal, and their relation to one another, gives the student an idea 

 of the importance of correlation, symmetry, animal mechanism, and 

 quality, a knowledge of whose -fundamental principles is an invaluable 

 aid to the feeder and breeder. A study of conformation also trains 

 the mind and the eye to clearly discern and estimate the effects of 

 food in the process of developing dairy type or con-formation. 



For example, the barrel of a dairy cow is relatively much larger, 

 deeper, and, if anything, longer than that of the beef ani.nal. There 

 i r 3 a considerable difference in the spring of the ribs o-i the beef and 

 dairy animal. The ribs of the dairy animal seem to spring out fro.n 

 a lower line on the back than in the beef animal. It may not be ac- 

 tually the case, but it appears so in viewing them from behind. The 

 posterior divergence of the ribs of the dairy cow is due to tlu -fact 

 that this animal has a relatively larger development of the digestive 

 machinery than the beef animal. 



The highly cultured maternal instinct must also be kept in mind, 

 for as a dairy cow milks at least ten months of the year she must 

 carry and supply nutriment for a growing -foetus for seven months 

 of this period in addition to producing several times her own weight 

 of milk. The thigh is very thin from side to side, allowing a wide 

 space between the hind legs, permitting the development of a very 

 large udder. Take the young dairy heifer taught to drink large quan- 

 tities of skim milk and to digest coarse -food; its belly is often des- 

 pised by those who are unacquainted with dairy stock raising. But 

 is it after all a fault ? If accompanied with a well sprung rib and well 

 defined back and loins, depth of flank, even though a thick neck, and 

 other marks of constitutional vigor may follow we must not condemn 

 the heifer with a big belly, as it is often most desirab e, indicating 

 capacity as a feeder and user of foods. 



A gentleman once asked the late Rev. Samuel Marsden : " How are 

 milk vessels developed in heifers? Mow is the miik flow stimu- 

 lated ?" The reply was : " Bring them up in the way they should go, 

 and when they are old they won't depart from it ; that is to say, if 

 they are like mine well-bred dairy heifers. By this I mean, bring 

 up the hei-iers to consume large quantities of milk-producing food. 

 However, always bear in mind that there are some kinds of food 

 that will produce growth, but not fat. Use such foods." 



Science and experience both agree that if we expect to produce milk 

 cheaply and abundantly, not only imiM we have good diirv COWS 

 which are suitabU- for the business, but we nui-t also hi the feed t> 

 suit the cows, as it must be ever remembered that they produce t he- 

 best balanced -mod which possibly we partake of in the food elements 

 namely, carbo-hydrates, fat, and protein. 



The cow cannot of herself change her nature, or her milk. For. 

 owing to circuniMance-, the unfortunate cow has to depend on 

 her owner for the quality as well as the quantity <>i her food. Xot 



192. 



