EARLY BREEDING FOR DAIRYING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3205, 28 April 1911, Page 2

EARLY BREEDING FOR DAIRYING.

AN INTERESTING OPINION. “The opinion is not infrequently expressed,’ ’says an article in the “Farmer and Stockbreeder” (London), “that early breeding is to lie avoided in young heifers, and that this practice has a verv derimental effect upon the ultimate growth of the heifer, and not only that, but it is contended that the eonsitution is seriously impaired. “No doubt, looking at it from a theoretical point of view, there is something to be said in support of this opinion, but, nevertheless, practice goes to prove that heifers are not prejudically affected in their growth or constitution by being bred from at a comparatively early age provided that they are in a nicely forward condition at the time of service and during the time they are in calf kept liberally. Under the circumstances, early breeding—within reasonable limits, of course—would not appear to entail any ill-effects upon young heifers

“Early breeding, as is well known, tends to promote tlie milking powers in cattle to a very great extent, and tlie reason why this is so is not very far to seek. The milk-secreting organs in the young, immature heifer are in an undeveloped state, but when she is bred from and becomes in-calf, tlie development of these organs is naturally much stimulated, in consequence of the maternal functions being thus brought into activity at an early stage. They respond readily to the stimulus, while the subsequent calling into play of tlie milksecreting organs in the calving down heifer also serves to develop them, and in this way her milking powers are increased.

“Whilst early breeding from an immature heifer thus does not entail any unfavourable consequences in. so far as tlie lieifer herself is concerned, the same cannot be said with regard to the offspring which she produces as the result of such an early caling into play of the maternal functions, and a careful record should be kept of all stock thus raised, with full! details as to date of service, etc., in order to- avoid deterioration It is a well known fact that calves bred from immature heifers are physically inferior breeding value to those produced by cows which have reached maturity, and it is not advisable to retain such calves for breeding purposes Better they should go for veal. No doubt when the heifer is put to an old bull a great deal is done in the way of improving a calf dropped early, but very -often it is inadvisable to breed from an adult bull, as liis weight is generally very great. “In heifers which are not bred from until a comparatively late stage the milk-secreting organs are allowed to remain dormant too long, and do not develop to their full etxe-nt, because when a heifer approaches maturity these organs are no longer stimulated to further development by breeding. Cows intended for dairying purposes should certainly not be allowed to get unduly old before being put to the- bull.

“The influence of extra food on the dairy cow is very marked. During the months of autumn, it is quite usual for cows -to fall off their yield in milk, owing, no doubt, to the deterioration of the grass'. There is nothing like a good supply of grass for maintaining milk yields. Of course, there must always be a gradual falling off in the quantity and quality of milk, but that diminution is greater where the herbage becomes scanty and dry than when it is abundant and supplemented by green forage. No better plan can be adopted with dairy farmers than reserving pastures where this is possible, or supplying such suitable forage crops as can" he grown with confidence and success. A nitrogenous diet is the one most needed by dairy cows, and this is supplied by young grass and clover, whilst the use of succulent foods now and again is good. If a cow has to rely chiefly 'upon a large quantity of poor horbage or watery food the milk will become correspondingly poorer in solids, notably butter-fats.