BREEDING DAIRY CATTLE 239 



mand a higher price than do the offspring of grades. There- 

 fore, if the value of the calves is taken into consideration, a 

 pure-bred herd is a more profitable one, other things being 

 equal, than a grade herd. On the other hand, by the grading- 

 up process, that is, by continually selecting and breeding the 

 cows that are the best producers to a pure-bred bull, it is 

 entirely possible and by no means difficult to establish a herd 

 of grade cows that will equal in the production of milk any 

 herd of pure-bred animals. If, therefore, milk-production alone 

 is sought, a grade herd may produce as largely as a pure- 

 bred ; but if the offspring is taken into consideration, a purely 

 bred herd certainly has an advantage over a grade herd of 

 equal productive capacity. 



The enterprising and progressive owner will hardly be con- 

 tent with grades only. In the beginning, his bull will be pure- 

 bred ; presently he will want a pure-bred cow to match, then 

 one or two more. Thus he will be steadily and properly work- 

 ing towards a pure-bred herd and gaining in knowledge and 

 experience at the same time. This will be found a much 

 better plan, especially with the beginner or those unaccustomed 

 to handling registered stock, than to purchase a pure-bred 

 herd in the beginning. 



GRADING-UP THE HERD 



We remarked just above that by the grading-up process it 

 is entirely possible and by no means difficult to establish a 

 herd of grade cows that will equal in the production of milk 

 any herd of pure-bred animals. This may seem a bold state- 

 ment, but it is the one that it is desired to impress on the 

 average dairymen. While the methods of accomplishing this 

 vary greatly, careful selection and judicious mating furnish 

 the key to the situation. There are no secrets in herd im- 

 provement. In this discussion it is proposed briefly to indicate 

 the lines along which an attempt to breed up and improve a 



