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wants to look at is to get a good selection of cows. It will
not pay to keep poor cows. In these times of low prices it
will not do to keep an ordinary cow. It takes first-class
cows. You must do it by selection. You always have
some cows that are getting old or failing; turn them off for
beef.
I have been more successful in raising stock from some of
the best cows than in buying. If a man observes the laws
of breeding he will get up a better dairy in that way in a
few years, than in picking up cows through the country.
My advice would be to breed for certain points. If you
want dairy cows, breed for that. If you want a dairy
for cheese and carrying the milk to the factory, select your
dairy for that. If you have a market for milk, select them.
for that purpose. If you have a market for butter, select
them for that purpose. I think there is a great advantage
in breeding from pure blooded stock. In all events select
your males from the best milking families. Breed in that
direction and continue to breed so. In raising heifers from
your best stock, if you make a wise selection you will choose
four-fifths heifers, and the heifers will make first class cows.
They will not all make first class cows. If you raise heifers
from indifferent stock without any regard to the breeding
from pure stock on the male side, the chances are you will
not get one in four first class. The value of pure stock to
breed from lies in that direction; like begets like. Breed
from a pure male whatever your stock is, horses, cattle,
sheep or swine. I claim no farmer can afford to breed from
grade stock on the male side. If one man cannot afford to
buy a good animal, club together and get the best. It will
pay you fifty per cent. over and above what the majority of
farmers in our country do breed from. As I commenced
running a cheese dairy I got the Ayrshire stock. I have
had some experience with the Holsteins the last four or five
years. For a cheese dairy, I would prefer the Ayrshires.
Whatever breed you select be careful in making the selec-
tion. If you want to make butter I think the Jerseys would
be a good breed to cross with. You get a pure male animal
from a milking family and the grade heifers and cows will