FIRST CENTURY OF DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



udder is comparatively empty, and other circumstances are favour- 

 able, the secretion of milk by the milk-glands seems to take place 

 unnindered. But whenever the udder becomes full of milk, the rate 

 at which the secretion goes on is diminished. It still goes on, 

 however, as is evidenced by the distention of the udder which takr> 

 place under such circumstances, but no longer at the normal 

 rate. The pressure to which the udder is subjected seems to affect 

 the nature of the secretion, the quality oi the milk being different. 

 Take also Whiteback's half-sister Honeycomb, she was tested in 

 1892 for he Berry A. and H. Society's herd book, and produced 

 looilb of milk in 36 hours (three milkings); and in 1893, for the same 

 object, she was tested by Mr. John Thorburn. when she produced 

 I24lb of milk in 36 hours (three milkings). Those who were in a 

 position to know, stated that Honeycomb resembled in appearance 

 the best types of cows bred by Mr. Andrew McGill. in Illawarra. in 

 the early sixties. 



The idea some people have of the maxim "Like begets like," led 

 many breeders to think that all that was required was to breed 

 cattle up to a high standard of excellence, their progeny would per- 

 petuate the quality of their sires and dams, forgetting Nature's 

 law which provides for a dam suckling but one calf per year. The 

 experience o<f most breeders is to raise cows that would suckle 

 four calves comfortably, whilst carrying within them a large-sized 

 unborn calf. This state of things could not possibly continue for 

 many generations; hence we have many disappointments in the pro- 

 geny of cattle bred from these extraordinary producers. Amid the 

 difficulties, therefore, by which breeders are so often beset, none 

 seems much more important than the influence of the unborn calf 

 on its mother whilst she is producing an abundance of rich milk. 

 When we compare the progeny of heavy milkers with those of only 

 moderate milkers, the comparison is only too often in favour of 

 the latter. "Like begets like" is a little-understood maxim; words 

 which, because they contain a certain vague idea of breeding, easily 

 perceived, present the deceptive appearance of perfect clearness, 

 while, on account of the number and variety of objects to which 

 they apply, they are susceptible of a variety of meanings. Why 

 have we so many breeds and varieties of cattle? Simply because 

 soil, climate, and environment are constantly acting on. and in- 

 fluencing animal life. At no time during the life of an animal is 

 their influence more effective than in the early stages of the unborn 

 calf, oarticularly at the moment of conception. After birth, of 

 course, the food, the soil, the climate, and the treatment the young 

 receive, puts the finishing touches on the mature animal. But 

 one need not pursue the endless enumeration, though it seems neces- 

 sary to dwell on it from time to time, even at the risk of fat i Lruin.tr 

 the reader. Whatever, therefore, be the acceptation in which the 

 words "Like begets like" be taken, it is apparent that they always 

 imply the absence of a cause which has not been defined or at least 

 clearly comprehended. 



It is characteristic of the minds of those dairymen who are 

 ambitious to possess the best types of dairy cattle to be ever en 

 gaged in passing judgment on their own and their neighbour's cattle. 

 No sooner do they apprehend than they judge. They allow no point 

 to stand by itself. They compare, contrast, connect, and classify. 

 according to their knowledge, whether theoretical or practical, or. 

 perhaps, from that knowledge gained by constant as-^dciaticn with 

 men of srenius and more general experience. Of the judgments 

 thus formed, which in time become aspects in their minds of the 

 animals which have passed under review, some are mere oninions 

 which come and go. or which remain, only till newer ones displace 



226. 



