CONCERNING HEIFERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 23

CONCERNING HEIFERS.

A point of much questioning amongst farmers in the Old Country as well as in the colonies, has been the age at which the heifer should be bred. Many and varied have been the discussions on the matter, but it has been difficult to obtain definite reasons for the many assertions put forth. ''The American farmers tackle all the questions in a bold manner, and take a delight in practical experiments. If any new problem is set forth in farming matters, they never rest until they have obtained it 3 solution., The very early breeding of heifers _ is favoured by many, as it develops the milking habit early, and directs the energy of a heifer to the elaboration of milk. Early breeding is also advocated as economical, the ammal beginning to pay a profit when at an early age. Those who favour breeding the heifer at a more mature age urge that it is_ essential to the perfect development of the animal, and to the perpetuation of the vigor of a breed. As bearing on this subject, a test of the various dairy breeds has recently been carried out at the New York Agricultural College. Choice young females of the Holstein, Ayrshire, American Holsteins, G uernsey, and Shorthorn breeds are in use. In order to make them calve under most favourable conditions, representative breeders were asked to state when each animal should be bred the party from whom each animal was obtained being entitled to name the time when that heifer should be bred. There were four Holsteins, and the ages recommended for service were 21, 15, 18, and 16 months, an average of 17J months. Of the four Ayrshires the ages recommended were 18, 21, 17, and 20 months, an average of 19 months. For the two American Holstein heifers the age named was 16 months each. For the Gt-uernseys 15 and 17 months, or an average of 16 months. For two Shorthorns, 21 and 19 months were l named, or an average of 20 months. It is

notable that not one of the parties making the suggestions recommended that a heifer should calve at an earlier age than 24 months, and all these breeders wanted a calve dropped ere the heifer should reach years.