202 THE iMANAGEilENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



investment will depend upon the value of the cows as 

 breeders, and the low price for which they may be 

 bought. Foundation animals may sometimes be thus 

 obtained at low relative cost. When females aged that 

 are pregnant may be purchased for less than would be 

 paid for a calf yet unweaned, the purchase of the same 

 may be proper and commendable. 



The ultimate end for old cows is, of course, the 

 block, and it may be wise to send them there in the 

 absence of other ways of disposal before they become 

 incapable of further breeding. It is a matter of con- 

 siderable importance with a professional breeder to have 

 the animals in his herd looking well because of the 

 impression made upon prospective purchasers who visit 

 the same. In grade herds it will seldom be profitable 

 to retain cows the full term of their breeding capacit}^ 



Cows in the city dairy. — The practice is common in 

 some city dairies to milk cows for but one season. 

 When thus managed, of course, only cows that are fresh 

 are purchased, and from such sources as may be avail- 

 able. Usually but little can be known about them or 

 their ancestors. They are well fed to insure good re- 

 turns in milk, and when the milk yield is no longer 

 profitable, they are sent to the block at whatever price 

 can be obtained for them. Dairymen that adopt this 

 plan are usually without facilities for keeping cows dur- 

 ing the period when they do not give milk preparatory 

 to freshening. 



To this system there are three objections. First, 

 the antecedents of the cows not being known, they are 

 sometimes disappointing in their milk yields. Second, 

 good cows are sacrificed that would be capable of fur- 

 nishing large returns in in ilk for successive years if kept 

 for such a use. Third, calves, more or less valuable that 

 would otherwise be forthcoming are not produced. Such 

 a system, though it mav, in some instances, afi'ord the 

 most profit to the owner, means the sacrificing of too 



