260 Cattle Problems. 



which, the hap-hazard practice of breeding is neither 

 scientific, systematic, nor progressive. 



Good but small families of milking cows have been 

 established in numbers of instances, at times, in different 

 parts of the country, showing that it is practicable. But 

 while most breeds of cattle supply cows of good form, the 

 question of breed is not particularly involved, as the right 

 form of organization, and thenecessary yield-basis of good 

 digestion, are the necessary conditions required in cows for 

 large yield ; and two-thirds of the time occupied in 

 gradually establishing a small milking family can be saved 

 by breeding from cows that already have good yielding 

 capacity. 



There are several methods by which cows of good yield 

 and form can be employed to breed a much larger succes- 

 sion of similar cows than is now extant : First, either 

 small or large herds of good cows can be divided,* and 

 each half used in alternate years, one-half for breeding 

 and the other half for milking. Or, if a smaller propor- 

 tion or number will keep up the numbers of the herd, 

 one-third of the cows can be bred from each year, another 

 third succeeding them the next season, and so on, which 

 would employ all the good cows of each herd one-third of 

 the time, or one season in three ; this method affording 

 time for the breeding organs to rest and recuperate during 

 the milking season or seasons, and resting the parts imme- 

 diately accessory to milk-yield during the breeding terms, 

 which would certainly be beneficial to the milking and 

 breeding powers of the cows. 



Modifications of this system are practicable. For in- 

 stance : Well-formed heifers can be employed for milking 

 three or four years to increase their capacity, and the pe- 

 culiar form which in most instances co-exists with large 



* By the use of barbed wii-o, which we know will inaku otllcicnl cattle 

 fences, the cost of fencing being very light. 



