DAIRY CATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 122, 19 November 1935, Page 4

DAIRY CATTLE

FOUNDING A HERD

PUREBRED ANIMALS

UUIDE FOR. THE 11UYEJJ

: The founding of a purebred dairy herd requires thought and energy, as uU 100 often, one. sees years o£ work and much expense rendered practically fulilo through starting off with insufficient knowledge. It is altogether wrong to purchase inferior stock just because they are cheap with the idea of "grading up" as time goes on. As a general rule, good-quality cattle command reasonable prices. Snips in the shape of high-quality cattle are to be obtained, of course, in public sale rings, but these generally fall to the bids of experienced and discerning breeders who have the ability to recognise true merit under uninviting exteriors. High-quality animals will not only prove superior in production but will also gain for their purchaser the respect and confidence of his fellowbreeders, these being factors of real value both in the conduct of breeding operations and in the disposal of surplus stock.

The keynote of success, therefore, is the selection of high-quality cattle as foundation stock. A high-quality animal is one that reveals -the ' inborn type characteristics of its breed, such as size, shape, colour, marking, coupled with physical conformation known as "dairy type." After quality comes pedigree. This order should never be reversed, as there is a tendency for animals to revert to ail inferior primi- i tive type. The modern heavy-producing dairy cow is really an unnatural J animal. Reversions even among the most productive strains are, therefore, not uncommon, and since undesirable types are just as prepotent as desirable ones, incalculable harm would result should pedigree be preferred to type or quality. An animal's pedigree should be regarded purely as a record of its breeding. A desirable pedigree is one that shows an animal to be descended from cattle that have been bred for generations for one definite purpose—in the case of dairy cattle this purpose is milk and butterfat production. An animal's value, therefore, is greatly enhanced if, in addition to desirable type, it also has a good \ pedigree. ! LOCATION IMPORTANT. The first point to be considered in deciding to establish a purebred herd is the matter of location, to see that the soil and climate will give these highly-bred cattle a reasonable chance of justifying the additional cost of their purchase. Purebreds, of course, are heir to the same infirmities that afflict other cattle, and where harder conditions—soil and climate—tend to cause sickness and disease, it is undoubtedly advisable to confine one's activities to a herd of hardy crossbreds farmed on strictly commercial lines. Cattle from light, dry, or high country may safely be -taken into similar districts or on to rich swamp land, where in the latter case they often give surprisingly good results. On the other hand, care should be exercised in taking them from swamp land to lighter soils or greater altitudes. If such must be done, only cattle of- the soundest constitution should be selected, and even then a decline may be expected until they are thoroughly acclimatised. Young stock adapt themselves to the altered circumstances much more quickly than older ones.

_ The method to be pursued in establishing a herd depends largely upon individual conditions. The ideal plan probably is for the beginner to attend agricultural shows where the particular breed that he fancies is largely exhibited, to inspect animals both, in the stalls and in the ring parade, and to lose no opportunity of discussing their merits and demerits with breeders and judges. Visits to these shows should be followed by an inspection of well-established herds. Where time does not permit of this self-education, some reputable and established breeder may be asked to select the foundation stock. THE CHEAPEST METHOD. Cows of proven merit are eminently desirable, but it is rarely that such cows are obtainable at reasonable prices, as the ownex-s are loath to part with them. Aged cows should not be purchased unless they are guaranteed to be sound and to be breeders. The purchase of in-calf heifers is a very popular method 'for the reason that such heifers come to profit shortly after purchase. By purchasing such heifers the beginner gets the benefit of the breeder's knowledge and experience in the mating of animals, and he may reasonably expect a very satisfactory crop of calves by highly desirable herd sires. The purchase of females as calves is probably the cheapest method that can be pursued, but such animals lack the development which would assist the beginner in judging their capabilities. The purchase of a herd sire is a matter of even more importance than the purchase of females, and price should . not be stinted in a matter where an animal of the requisite quality and breeding is concerned. He should be of the same type as, and, if possible, of even higher quality, than the females, and should come from the same foundation strains; or, in other words, be line-bred to them. Linebreeding (the mating of distinctly related animals of the same family) is regarded as the quickest and most satisfactory method of building up a high-class herd. For this reason many beginners adopt the eminently sound practice of purchasing both their males and females from the one herd. In this matter the new herd is really an offshoot of the parent herd, and the beginner who uses sound judgment in his selection of a parent herd is generally assured of I ho close interest and co-operation ol! an experienced land successful breeder.