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come into milk, otherwise, though they may be in good 

 condition on pasture or light feed at the time of calv- 

 ing, the heifers will be unable to digest a rich grain food 

 sufficient to keep them in that condition which enables 

 them to produce the best flow of milk. 



It is a common practice among breeders of dairy 

 cattle to allow the heifers to produce their first calves 

 at about two years old. The effect of this on the cow 

 is to almost entirely stop her growth for from four to 

 six months. But when the flow of milk decreases the 

 heifer will commence growing again, and if liberally 

 fed her growth at this time will be so rapid that at the 

 end of the year the heifer will be about as large as 

 though she had not produced a calf. With the second 

 calf the heifer's growth will be again retarded and most 

 frequently again resumed, attaining her full size just 

 before her third calf is born. 



In case the heifers have their first calves at three 

 years old, they stop growing when the calf is born the 

 same as in the case of the two-year-old heifers, but 

 this check in their growth seems to be so close to the 

 age when the heifer should become matured, that 

 their growth is frequently permanently checked; my 

 general experience being in this matter that those 

 heifers that have their first calves at two years old 

 grow a longer time and make larger cows than those 

 that have their first calves at three years old. 



A cow's education is a matter of no small importance 

 in regard to her usefulness, and should be commenced 

 in early calf hood. The first lesson to be taught is con- 

 fidence, or not to be afraid. A calf that is taught to 

 be tame or allowed to become timid, never forgets its 

 early lesson and will carry through its life these early 

 impressions. 



