260 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



smaller foetus, and calf, than if bred to a large one, and drawing 

 less on the foetal nourishment which the heifer is obliged to 

 furnish. 



The advantages of breeding thus early are : 



1st. The milking faculties of the growing heifers are more 

 easily stimulated into action than if neglected to twenty-seven 

 months, or later, (bringing her calf at three years of age,) and 

 thus apt to prove a better milker. 



2d. She is inclined to be more docile, and easier handled, and 

 managed. 



3d. She arrives at her maturity of production for dairy pur- 

 poses a year earlier; and 



4th. A year is gained in her profit. 



These are decided advantages. Objections may be made that 

 the strain from such early maturity may weaken her system and 

 constitution, and lessen her value in after life. This may be so 

 when she has been stinted in food, and stunted in growth, but the 

 objection has little weight when a thrifty and healthy growth 

 has been given her. One of the finest thorough bred Short- 

 horn cows we ever owned, brought her first calf at sixteen 

 months old. We have had them, Devons, Herefords, Short- 

 horns, and common heifers, frequently calve at two years, and 

 they grew to be among the best cows of their several kinds. 

 It has been our habit for many years — and we still practice it — 

 for dairy purposes, to breed our heifers at fifteen to seventeen 

 months, so as to cast their first calves at two years to twenty-six 

 months of age; and we have found a decided advantage in it. 

 They come in fine, thrifty young cows, in good condition, and 

 prove excellent milkers, lasting as many years as if bred a 

 season later. We have seen it practiced by others, and the great 

 majority of evidence, under the circumstances we have named, 

 is in favor of thus bringing them to early maturity, and conse- 

 quent profit. 



