THE GROWING HEIFER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 2

THE GROWING HEIFER

IMPORTANCE OP PROPER FEEDING. A dairy heifer should be kept growing right from birth to maturity. Peed is as important for tbo development of the various organs concerned in'milk-making in her ns it is in the development of the meat-making habits early in life in heeling animals. Breeding a dairy cow right is only laying the foundation. Feeding properly the heifers resulting from the right kind of breeding is of equally great importance. Feed will do much to overcome the effects of injudicious breeding, but it will not overcome them completely. Dairy heifers, all through their growing periods, require abundance of albuminoids in heir feed. Of all grains oats are the best adapted for developing the milk-producing tendency in hoifefs, and equipping them best for the purposes they are required for. Oats, with a little bran and plenty of hay, and clover particularly, will keep heifers during calfhood and the first few years of life in a vigorous, growthy condition ; will carry them so constantly forward that by the time they are'full grown they are largesized animals, with the milk-making and good digesting apparatus strongly developed. What is required in dairy cows—size, plenty of digestive capacity, and a place where the lactic food may ho elaborated after the materials for its elaboration have been withdrawn from the blood—in brief, a well developed udder. Feed in the development of this equipment is very intimately concerned. The feed creates the superstructure wherein the life activities are carried on.