IMPROVEMENT IN BREEDING DAIRY STOCK.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1783, 7 November 1879, Page 4

IMPROVEMENT IN BREEDING DAIRY STOCK.

["Castner's Rural Australian.?'] _ 'Good cows have three important qualities, viz . they feive rich milk, yield it in large qualities, and hold out well during the year. Though: by nature, there is> a great oitterencefn cows, still, perhaps as much depends on their treatment as on their original constitutions. The most profitable and desirable cow for the dairy is not always the ono which for a short time, or on high y stimulating or-concentrated food, may yield the most milk or butter, or both. I It is not the quantity uiveu. but the quantity-profitably given, which determines the value ; and this involves not only the question of feeding and management, but the number of weeks in the year during whichthe cow may continue to produce. It i* more'the quantity produced in the twelve an' nths, than in any one or two weeks, which involves that profit. \A good milker alone does not, in our judgment, constitute a good cow ; neither does a good breeder, nor a good feeder. It is these thee good qualities combined that makethecow Give us a cow that is good for milk quality as well as quantity considered, that when properly bred to good bulls, will invariably produce good calves, and one that-when dried of her milk, with proper care and attention, takes on flesh ■rapidly and evenly—and for once we rest for a while at least,-satisfied. And until we can raise up an entire breed of cows, each one of which shall possess these excellences, our aim should be to advance in improvement until we can accomplish our object Equal care - should be exercised in the selection of a sire as of a dame. From infancy the stock bull should receive sufficient nutritions food to-secure thrift, but not enough to makeany approach toward obesity. In order to have a large development of the viceral organs this food should be given moist and in as large a bulk as is compatible with the result desired. Quietness and docility may not be overlooked, and constitution and greediness are of the first importance. The same general rule will apply, also, to the rearing of the heifer. When she shall have attained the age of fiftfen months -she should be mated with the.bull. From this age up to five or six years old, is offered our golden opportunity for the most rapid development of high dairy qualities. High condition is undesirable for a heifer in calf, especially 'oWrvds the close of the term, because of the danger of inflammation of the udder and its connections, always more or less manifested in the first state of lactation. 'lnflammation to any degree tends to check the secretion of milk, and fix the habits of the cow for scant production. - Sometimes it is best to let heifers go farrow the second year, to obtaii better growth, but liberal feeding will generally do away with the .necessity of underfed animals. To avoid dwarfing our stock, the first calves of heifers should not generally be reared for breeders. Notwithstanding the low estimates at which the cost of raising heifers is usually put.-'ithas been conceded by farmers that the raising of dairy stock is unprofitable. Without indorsing these estimates, we feel confident that this of things will continue as long as unwarranted endeavours are made to reduce the cost production, and no efforts put forth to increase the intrinsic value of our stock. # Cow 3 of extraordinary milking qualities *»re found as often among crosses as among thoroughbred animals. *As a rule, the progeny of extra milkers becomes the best cows,- -and every heifer calf from such cows should be raised, except it fail to carry the ' prevailing mark indicating a good milker. This-mark is the upward growth of the hair on' the outside of the thigh of the calf from immediately behind the udder, as high as the hair grows. If it runs up in a smooth, unbroken column, other things being equal, such as good care and continued thrifty growth,- there will scarcely be a failure. There are o'her conditions necessary to a good cow, such as fair-sized teats, and easy milking, a yellow skin, and others which are •'familiar to all dairymen. As far as practicable, a large, well-developed animal is desirable. The improvement in the quality of our dairy cows -is a matter of much importance, and to neglect to make all the most • improvement possible, is very unwise.