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specially bred for the purpose. It is not always that the good qualities of the 
_ parents will be transmitted to the offspring, as, if we are careless in rearing . 
the calf, it cannot be expected that the good qualities of the parents will be 
found init. We should by our treatment of the young aim at developing the 
characteristics of a dairy beast. In order to build up a good dairy herd, we must 
begin with a good milking strain regardless of breed. My selection is a good 
milker of any breed. 
To obtain good results, we must have quality on the father and mother’s 
side. It will be found that the cow will always throw back to the better breed ; 
consequently, if cross breeds of a fair mil king capacity are crossed. with a good 
male animal, good milkers will be the result. The offspring will always inherit 
a higher merit on the male side. In most cases the sire has a greater influence 
on the characteristics of the offspring than the dam. 
The rearing of the calf should begin before it is born, consequently the — 
If a cow is in low condition at 
constitution of the dam must be considered. 
the time of calving, a healthy, good calf cannot be expected, The calf should 
be fed for the first week on pure sweet milk, and the supply decreased gradually 
for a period of four or five weeks, when it will thrive on skim milk. The bull 
should not be allowed to runwith the heifers until they (the heifers) are two years 
old. There are several breeds of cattle suitable for dairying, and each person 
favours his own particular breed. Previous to the invention of the Babcock 
milk-tester, our ambition was to breed an animal to produce a great quantity 
regardless of quality, but now we must strive to breed an animal that will 
produce a quantity of butter fat. 
ow, my idea on raising a dairy herd, is to breed animals best 
suited for the districts in which they are to be kept. For high, poor ridgy 
country, I would suggest a light animal, such as the Ayrshire or Devon, crossed. 
with the best of the cows to be found in our present herds. Hor heavy black 
soil country, I would advise the Ayrshire and Shorthorn cross, which are 
considered to be strong, sound-constitutioned animals. When looking for 
cheese production, I would adhere to the Ayrshire and Holstein. ‘The Short- 
horns are good milkers, if bred for the purpose, and in some colonies have an 
average yield of 400 gallons of rich milk, and reach as high as 1,000 gallons. | 
The Ayrshires, until very recently, received very little consideration amongst 
our herds, but are now considered preferable to the Shorthorn, and if selected =~ 
from a good milking strain are difficult to surpass. he Jerseys, I consider,’ 
are of too delicate a constitution to withstand hardships, but if crossed with a 
good milking strain would hold their own amongst the best of breeds. 
Frrpine Carrie. : 
A cow may be of the best: breed and possess good dairying capabilities, but, 
to obtain her true results, attention must be paid to her comfort and food. It 
is impossible for her to produce good rich milk unless the material necessary 
for its production—namely, good sweet fodder—is available for her. Knowledge 
of breeding must be assisted by skill or judgment in feeding—one without the 
other is useless. In order to place the industry on a sound footing, we must 
provide fodder for a time of need. Unless we adopt a thorough system of 
feeding, it will be impossible to establish a successful export trade. By the 
adoption of a system of feeding, we place ourselves in a position to keep up a 
regular supply of dairy products all the year round, and thereby give confidence 
to the home people that they can rely on a constant supply. 
The great necessity of feeding cannot be too strongly impressed upon our 
dairymen. The cow is very similar and may be compared to a steam engine. 
The latter requires fuel to give us full steam capacity, and the former requires 
food (fuel) to enable her to attain her full milking capabilities. “It is far 
better to keep a small number of cows and feed them well than a greater 
number and half feed them, for profit is only obtained when care is bestowed. 
on our herds. The Queensland pastures are, in most districts, suitable for the 
secrete milk. The greatest milkers are to be found in herds which have been — 
