240 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



herd of common cattle is most likely to prove successful. For 

 it must be remembered that the large, majority of dairymen 

 seeking to improve their herds must depend largely on the 

 individual animals they have already on hand, as the basis from 

 which to start the improvement. 



The first essential is a record of the performance of each 

 cow comprising the herd. In herd improvement it is funda- 

 mental, and without it advancement cannot be made. No 

 one, not even the experienced dairymen, can afford to do this 

 upon guesswork alone. 



The second essential is the selection of a suitable bull. Three 

 factors in order of their importance are: his pedigree based 

 upon a record of performance, his individuality, and his ability 

 to get uniform offspring. Greatest improvement is not possible 

 with any one of these factors wanting. 



The first generation. — If the sire has been well chosen, the 

 calves in the first generation are likely to be an even and uni- 

 form crop, even though their dams be of mixed breeding. If 

 the sire be a pure-bred, the first crop of calves will be half-bloods. 

 If convenient, all of the heifer calves should be retained. A 

 great advantage in the rapid improvement of a herd of cows 

 under this grading-up process is the ability to raise a large num- 

 ber of individuals up to the time that they begin to produce, so 

 that a greater number may be available from which to select. 

 If often happens, however, that the circumstances of the owner 

 do not admit of rearing a large number, and some selection 

 must be made at the time of birth. 



Select heifer calves from high-producing dams. — If some 

 calves must be discarded, owing to lack of facilities for rearing 

 them, let it be those from the low-producing dams. Retain the 

 heifers from the high-producing cows. This is in keeping with 

 our law that "like produces like." Some have recommended 

 retaining the heifer calves from those cows that show variation, 

 particularly toward improvement, basing their argument on 



