BREEDING DAIRY CATTLE 247 



the calf at two years of age depends much on the individual. 

 If she is vigorous, healthy, and well grown, it will probably be 

 better to breed her rather young, and encourage the milking 

 habit from the beginning. Once giving milk, keep her at it as 

 long as possible, for the cow that dries off after secreting milk a 

 few months is unprofitable at best. Do not breed her a second 

 time till rather late, as the effect of the animal again becoming 

 pregnant is to decrease the flow of milk. This practice has much 

 to recommend it. In the first place, unbred heifers are in heat 

 two or three days every three weeks, and these constant recur- 

 ring periods are as much of a check on the gro\i^th of the heifer 

 as that of the growth of the fetus. Again, if the cow is let run 

 in this unbred state, the reproductive organs are likely to be- 

 come deranged and the animal barren. The animal bred young 

 in life will prove a more regular breeder. The condition of 

 pregnancy seems to have a marked stimulating effect on the 

 system of the heifer. The assimilation is much better, and if 

 provided with an abundance of nutritious food, she will make 

 a greater growth during pregnancy than otherwise. It is easier 

 to develop the ■ milk-secreting organs at this early period. 

 Therefore, if the heifer is thrifty and well grown, it would seem 

 best from a practical point of view to breed her young. 



At about eight or ten years of age, the productive powers 

 of most dairy cows begin to wane, although many of them are 

 reliable breeders well into the teens. Above twelve years of 

 age, however, it is rarely that they will breed, and when an 

 animal of this age persistently fails to conceive, it is perhaps 

 best to dispose of her as the chances of her propagating are 

 exceedingly remote. 



Season of the year to breed. — The natural time for calves to 

 arrive is in the spring. Under ordinary farm conditions this 

 is the customary time for having the cows drop their calves. 

 There are many advantages in having the calves come at this 

 time. The pregnant cow can be turned to grass, which is the 



