RAISING CALVES FOR THE DAIRY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1977, 25 June 1880, Page 2

RAISING CALVES FOR THE DAIRY.

[“ Prairie Farmer.”] The day has gone by when a cow from whose milk only a pound of butter is obtained daily satisfies the daiiyman’s requirements. We have been much gratified to see the marked interest which has prevailed upon this matter at the dairymen's meetings which have been held during the past winter. As our readers know, we have persistently advocated the necessity for improvement by weeding poor cows out of tho herds throughout dairy districts and supplying their places with good ones. Time is required to do th ; », but the sooner each dairyman begins the sooner will improvement follow. How can it soonest ke accomplished with prudence and economy is the inquiry at ones presented. It is not such an expensive process as many imagine it to be. The first step involves a radical change in the policy which prevails of disposing of all tho calves and buying cows to supply the wear and tear of the herd. In all dairies there are some good cows, and the heifer calves of such animals should be retained. The performance of a caw at the pail is the safest criterion in deciding what calves to keep and what to dispose of. At the same time the appearance of the calf of such a cow should not be overlooked. It may not possess the characteristics of its dam or possess paints which are recognised as important in animals desirable for dairy purposes. A coarse head, thick neck, and heavy foro quarters are not desirable, for they do not indicate dairy qualities. If a calf of this description is the produce of a good milker it is better to discard it. A promising heifer calf for the dairy has a clean neat head, a fine long neck, light fore quarters, deep flank, and other general characters which dairymen recognise as essential to good dairy stock. When the offspring of cows that are deep or rich milkers closely resemble them in general appearance, the inference is reasonable that such offspring inherit also the milking quality of their dams. The excellent dairy breeds have been produced by saving such calves and breeding them at a proper age to males possessing like characteristics.

In this as in other branches of cattle-raising it should not be overlooked that the bull is half the herd. To reach the desired goal as speedily as may be, the use of a pure-bred bull of some one of the improved dairy breed* or of a well-established milk family of some other improved race of cattle is of much important. Animals of this kind can now be had at a reasonable price, and, if possible, should be secured. Beginning in this way, and steadily pursuing this policy, but few years will pass before a herd will be obtained in which there will be no unprofitable cows, while the re; urns from them will make glad the dairyman’s heart.