CONTENTS Preface Section One ESTABLISHING THE HERD AND THE BASIS OF PRACTICAL BREEDING 1. My start in herdsmanship 2. Selecting and founding the herd 3. Practical breeding and simple genetics 4. Herd efficiency: Sources of increased profitability 5. A call for some cattle sale reforms: and a formula for future sales Section Two THE SHOWING AND JUDGING OF DAIRY CATTLE 6. How to judge a dairy cow 7. Preparing for show and showing of cattle Section Three MANAGEMENT FOR MILK PRODUCTION 8. Preparing the heifer and cow for lactation 9. Feeding and cropping for the dairy herd 10. Calf rearing 11. Hints for new herdsmen Section Four CATTLE DISEASES—PREVENTION TREATMENT 12. 'There's only one disease of animals . . .' Abortion Acetonaemia Actinomycosis or Wooden Tongue Blown, Bloat or Hoven Calf Scour Husk or Hoose Worms Johne's Disease Joint ill Mastitis Milk Fever Grass Tetany Red Water Rheumatism Ringworm, Eczema, Mange, Skin diseases Teat sores or Cowpox Sterility Vaginitis Metritis Injuries, Cuts and Wounds Quick diagnosis and treatment chart 13. Herbal medicine on the farm and a challenge 14. Foot-and-mouth disease—can be prevented without slaughter APPENDICES 1. Letters from successful users of my veterinary methods 2. The Why and How of the Breeds, and What to look for in each breed 'Jerseys' by Newman Turner 'Guernseys' by G. F. Dee Shapland 'Dairy Shorthorns' by Robert Hobbs 'Kerrys' by Joan Cochrane 'British Friesians' by B. J. Honeysett 'Dexters' by Lady Loder 'Red Polls' by P. T. Joyce and N. L. Cull 'Ayrshires' by S. Mayall 'South Devons' by George Eustace 3. The Composition of the milk 4. How to estimate contents of stacks, silos, clamps and dutch barns 5. Animal Health Association—advice in the use of herbs LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Coming in for milking Five generations Prizewinning cow and calf Author with calf of a 15-year-old Jersey Milking out during judging Judging A good spring of rib Ribs widely 'sprung' and wide apart Good depth of barrel Good heart room The wide triangle Fine sharp shoulders Width from hip to hip Length between hip and pin A well-shaped udder, strong straight legs A badly attached udder, weak hind legs Before preparation for show Prepared for show Winter coat begins to shed Rubbing off the winter hair Polishing the horns A fine loose skin Good growing condition—Polden Autumn Gold Heifers in hard growing condition The Polden Herd going out to graze The author's prizewinning heifers Intelligent and dairylike heads Intelligent and dairylike heads Ramsons (Allium Ursinutri) or wild garlic, growing Dosing with garlic The douche and enema Giving a rectal enema The Jersey bull The Jersey cow The Guernsey bull The Guernsey cow The Dairy Shorthorn bull The Dairy Shorthorn cow The Kerry bull The Kerry cow The British Friesian bull The British Friesian cow The Dexter bull The Dexter cow The Red Poll bull The Red Poll cow The Ayrshire bull The Ayrshire cow The South Devon bull The South Devon cow