< PRACTICAL HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN. 



known by certain characteristics that arc recognised by breeders of 

 milk cows ; and very often in order to produce this type of cow 

 breeders use animals closely related so as to get fixity of type and 

 certainty of characteristic. This relationship, occasionally, affects the 

 vitality of. the animal, and it is further lowered by the very property 

 namely, good milking quality, for which it has been bred. It follows, 

 therefore, that good milkers are more likely to contract disease than 

 those giving a less supply of milk. They are probably closely allied 

 as regards their breeding, and the excessive drain on their blood may 

 not be compensated for in their food supply ; thus the animals be- 

 come susceptible to disease germs. 



f: 



It must, be remembered that cows that are large milkers are un- 

 natural cows ; they are like cultivated plants very delicate. A: com- 

 mon cow that gives only enough milk for her caM may stand .neglect, 

 but a good milker will not. 



Cows in calf should have plenty of exercise ; but great care should, 

 be' taken that they do not fight with other cows or meet with, any 

 accident. They must not be allowed to jump or run, and they must 

 not be driven fast or jerked. 



The feeding of a heifer should be liberal. She should have regular 

 rations of the food prepared and Driven to the cows, and about half* 

 as much of it will be efciten profitably. Liberal feeding of good 'food 

 develops the digestive functions, and the trainine- of a heifer for the 

 dairy should be such as to encourage the heairnful disposal of as 

 much food as possible consistent with economy. 



The calves are the means for the improvement of the dairy. By a 

 gradual course of breeding, rearing, and development the calves be- 

 come the basis for all the skill of the dairyman's work in improving 

 his stock, and increasing their product. 



Breeding one's own cows is the surest method of attaining success 

 in the dairy. When a cow is bought you are not at all sure of her, 

 blood; she herself may be a large and rich milker, and may milk for 

 a long time, but you are not sure of her producing the same qualities 

 in her progeny. 



Breeding one's own cows is very often cheaper than buying them, 

 provided one has extensive grass lands on which to run Hs young 

 stock. But it will not pay to raise one's own cows on small areas. 



Cattle need protection ftrom the midday sun and heavy rains. If 

 there are no shade trees on the grounds under the shade of which the 

 cattle stand, or breakwinds to protect them from the cold winds, there 

 should be sheds erected for them. 



Some people are penny wise and pound foolish, and will buy cows 

 of no defined breed and of very inferior milking qualities, rather fhan 

 pay a decent price for a good cow. An inferior cow can be bought 

 for a -few pounds, but she will give little or no milk, and her food and 

 keep will cost more than her milk is worth ; and her calf will be 

 valueless. 



It is always more profitable to keep a cow giving a large quantity 

 of milk than one that gives only a small quantity. A good large cow 

 will give from five to six gallons of milk per day ; and the cost of 

 her food and keep will not exceed from the fourth to the third of the 

 value of her milk. 



In a herd of sixty cows on a dairy farm, on the average one-fourth 

 will have to be replaced every year owing to various causes. A good 

 bull is, therefore, essential, whose stock will year by year take the 

 place of the discarded cows. 



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