The millionth Hohlein-Friesian registered m the United States u>d5 a calf-club heifer^ ' Hilda OrmsbyLady.oidnedby Hilda Techlin.Appleton. iDis. ClabiPork placed the first^ purebred in the Techlm herd I fublished iu ihe poIstein-Triesian Association of/fmerica Brattleboro - X^ermont ©CU(>S.U4 5 JUL 2^ 1922 'v. (? t C e foster Mother of the World The cow is a most won- derful laboratory. She takes the grasses of the pasture and roughage of the field and converts them into the most perfect food for man. In that food there is a mysterious something which scientists have found essential to the highest health of the human race, and which can be found no- where else. Men have sought for centuries the fabled Fountain of Youth. The nearest approach to that fountain which has yet been discovered is the udder of the cow. Without her milk, children lan- guish, the vigor of the adult declines, and the vi- tality of the human race runs low. Frank O. Loioden, Sinnissippi Farm, Oregon, IHtnois The Holstein-Friesian Association of America wishes to acknowledge the assistance rendered by the State Club Lead- ers of the varipus states, the County Agents who so willingly answered our questions, and the men of the United States Department of Agriculture, who are devoting their time and energy to the development of Boys' and Girls' Club Work. Special credit belongs to the State Club Leaders of Wis- consin, Minnesota and Ohio — T. L. Bewick, T. A. Erickson and W. H. Palmer — and Ivan L. Hobson of the United States De- partment of Agriculture, for material assistance in working over the details and supplying illustrations for the Calf Club Manual. The association is particularly grateful to the Calf Club Committee, consisting of Howard Barker, L. L. Oldham and H. W. Norton, Jr., who gave freely of their time and thought, and to the other State Secretaries who so kindly answered questions and made suggestions from time to time. Introduction OR many years agricultural work with boys and girls has been recognized in America as a great factor in the future development of the agricul- tural possibilities of the nation. As has been said : "Our hope of the future as a food-produc- ing country lies in our attitude toward the young rather than in the transformation of the old." The movement known as Boys' and Girls' Cluli Work, which has now spread to every state in the Union, is of comparatively recent origin. Starting as it did with simple grain-growing and stock-judging contests, it has developed into definite organization of our young peo- ple largely from the rural sections with three distinct features or purposes in mind, namely, an educational opportunity, social development, and business training. Club w^ork that has as its aim merely the winning of a prize has proven of little value and of short life. Well Directed Club Work Well-directed club work creates a spirit of co-operation — develops team work ; inspires confidence and initiative — pro- motes leadership ; increases knowledge through practical teaching and unites home and community — builds citizenship ; and develops the business grasp and the "cattle sense" of the next generation — upholds our agricultural traditions. To be sure, there are many secondary ends accomplished by Boys' and Girls' Club Work such as : Keeping the young folks on the farm ; producing and conserving food ; distributing purebred seed grains and helping rid the land of scrub bulls ; however, the fundamental point to keep in mind is that we are training bo s and girls in their life work by directing their activities and their play into fair play. To do this properly we must never lose sight of the boys' and girls' point of view. It is not the purpose of the following pages to dictate any hard and fast rules or plans. Local conditions will, of course, govern to some extent the kind and amount of work possible. Neither is it desired to lay down any set policy, but it is hoped that the examples and suggestions given from the practical experiences of others will be of assistance to those desiring, to start calf club work. I Grand champion female, Holstein-Friesian heifer, Ohio State Fair, iQ2o, o^vned by Edivard Bell, a calf club hoy me Calf Club Manual iT THE outset it is well to say that boys' and girls' club work is a part of the extension pro- ' gram carried on by the County Agents, County Club Agents, and Home Demonstration Agents, with the help of the community at large. Most counties have one or more of the above men- tioned agents. Therefore, it is of great impor- tance that such agents should be consulted be- fore a definite form of organization is under way. The extension agents usually have a county program of work, and the Hol- stein Calf Club should be made to fit in with their plans to the mutual advantage of all concerned. Where no such county helpers exist the state extension service of your College of Agriculture should be written to for help and advice. Leadership Nothing starts of its own accord. There must 1)e a pro- moter or moving spirit. This spirit in person may be the Coun- ty x'\gricultural Agent, County Club Agent, Farm Bureau Secretary, County Superintendent of Schools, a breeder, a teacher, a banker or other business man, or we have known even a boy or girl to be the motive power that brought about a very successful organization. Experience has shown that there are many men and women of importance interested in calf club work. In one county, for example, the following people met to discuss the plans for a calf club : The County Agent, the County Superintendent of Schools, the State Club Leader, a leading banker representing the banks of the county, two newspaper men. the county fair secretary, and four leading Holstein breeders. It is easy to see how each unit played a part of the whole plan. The Coun- ty Agent was elected as chairman and very definite plans made and support pledged. Thus, before the campaign for members was launched, a real program had been outlined which brought everyone into action. The County Agent and breed- ers were greatly strengthened by this splendid backing. In another county there was no extension agent of any sort. Some public spirited Holstein breeders met with the County Superintendent of Schools and formulated a plan. The business men fell in with the idea and the club was a real success. Your county may require another program, but, in all events, you will find that the more parties interested the better. "No matter wdiat plan is followed there should be a real com- munity need for the work and men who are willing to carry out the program." If you have a county boys' and girls' club agent you are very fortunate, indeed. In some counties per- haps a club agent may be secured. In any case, some one person should be designated wdio will head up the work and as many local leaders as possible secured. Examples of good local leaders are : Agricultural and rural school teachers, Hol- stein breeders, older young people in the community. Organization of Local Clubs It will be found of great value to organize the young people of the various neighborhoods into local clubs and the locals into a county club. Where it is possible, hold regular club meetings at least once a month. A friendly rivalry is aroused in this way from the beginning, which is invaluable to the suc- cess of the work. The local clubs and county clubs should have their own officers and should adopt by-laws and a reg- ular order of business to govern their meetings. Thus the young people are given an opportunity to run their own af- fairs. The practice in parliamentary proceedings and the ex- perience gained at such public meetings are in\'aluable in later years and train them to become leaders in their communities. Records and Reports Each boy or girl should be required to keep accurate and systematic records. State extension departments co-operat- ing with the extension office of the United States Department of Agriculture have a carefully prejiared record liook which is furnished to every one enrolling in club work. The books can be secured from the State Club Leader' in the extension de- partment of your Agricultural College. Young people enjoy keeping these records. It teaches them business principles and should be one of the chief means of judging results. We have never found the slightest objection to keeping records except from those who are opposed to a too careful method of check- Some Hnlstein ivinners at a State Fair Emil B attach ivill not ivant to leave the farttt ing up on results obtained. At each club meeting every mem- ber should give a report of the progress being made with his calf. Troubles or misfortunes should also be reported and the club secretary should pass them on to the county agricultural agent or the county committee. It is very important to have a committee of competent and interested breeders make the rounds of the county and visit and advise with the members of the chilis once a month. A final report of the local clubs should be made to the chairman of the county committee at the close of the project to be forwarded to the State Club Leader. General Regulations The county should he. the unit of organization. Local clubs should be formed around the community centers. Banded to- gether, these local clubs should form the unit known as the county calf club. A county calf club to be officially recognized l)y the IIol- stein-Friesian Association of America must have at least ten members, and a local club should not be organized with less than five. In general only purebreds are considered in u]vto-date calf club projects. Experience has proved the soimdness of this decision. However, high-grade heifers might be used the first year so as to get a club under way — but grades should never be allowed to compete with purebreds in the show ring. Work toward purebreds exclusively after the first year. Only boys or girls residing in a given county and of club age are eligible for membership. The usual club age is from 10 to 18 years, inclusive. Each club member should be the owner of a calf, and own- ership in case of purebreds must be recorded on the records of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America. Members are asked to keep such records of cost, gain, etc.. as are required for general club work by the State Club Leadei of the state wherein they reside. The age requirements of the calves are also governed by the rules of the state department ; some clubs will favor calves, while others may want yearlings or bred heifers. Still others may want members to carry the project over a number of years — starting with calves and wind- ing up the work when animals have passed the two-year mark. This is immaterial as long as the practice in any one club is I A splendid slioiving of Holstein-Friesian Club calves at a County fair The fourteen best from one county at a State Fair o ^ u ^ O O O rt 03 O U b/) en I— I O 03 U •I— I o <-t-l o O < >, Q a; 7". ^ OJ ^ ■4-' r/1 v-< o iJ fT! b/) V-4 -^3 t3 O +- ' p ^ ^ O rt P o . ^ : U t/i rj i:; ^3 x; bjo rt •r, u=: (J !U 3J Oh s ^ i^ ^ ^ CX o o -i: c o c« es by C.M.Lon^ C. M, Long- was born and reared on a Missouri farm. He took the ag- ricultural course at the University of Missouri, was married at the end of his junior year but finished his course and came back for his Master degree, after which he taught agri- culture for several years in the Ok- lahoma A. & M. College. For the next five years he was a dairy farmer and lectured for the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, and for seven years following that was farm ad- visor and county agent in Missouri. His influence in developing agricul- ture was by no means confined to his own county. The co- operative plan of development which he worked out in Pettis County, Mo., where he was for five years county agent, not only succeeded in putting that county securely on the Hol- stein map but has given to the public an idea which many other counties have successfully copied. He was also presi- dent of the Missouri Holstein-Friesian Association. In the summer of 1921 he was called to take the job as field secretary for the Illinois Holstein-Friesian Association. He does not lack for ideas and he has the ability to carry them through successfully. — Maurice S. Prescott. WM THINK the best place to select club calves is from tlie breeders in the home county. Getting the calves from the local breeders will cause them to take more interest in the club. Some- times a breeder takes special interest in the boy who gets his calf and a close friendship springs up that is mutually beneficial. However, it is notHways possible to select the calves at home. I know that sometimes clubs are started in localities where there are no Holsteins or where they are few in number. In this event the club should get in touch with the field secretaries of the states in which they wish to buy cattle. These secretaries are acquainted with the breeders and know where buyers will get good treatment. They feel a responsibility for the cattle that they help locate. When to Buy The time of the year in buying is not of so much impor- tance. However, as a rule calves can be bought cheaper in the fall before going into winter quarters than in the spring after they have been wintered and are about ready for grass. The writer's experience has been that August and Sep- tember — a between season time — have offered the best oppor- tunities. Type or Breeding One of the most perplexing questions in the mind oi the beginner is : "How much importance shall I attach to type and how much to breeding?" ]\[eaning by type general outline, size and dairy appearance. Meaning by breeding what might be called pedigree, or more particularly records in the pedigree, production records of the animal's immediate ancestry. Our advice would be to get as much of both for your money as possible. When the money is limited, as it usually is in club work — and sometimes too limited — one cannot expect to buy animals of good type and from ancestors with the highest production records. H I were given my choice, at the same price, of two animals, one having sire and dam with even ex- ceptionally high records but a poor individual — see article on Type — and the other with sire and dam with no production records but a good individual, I would take the good individual. Health Conditions to Be Observed The diseases that give the purebred breeder the most con- cern are tuberculosis and contagious abortion. In selecting the club calves care should be taken to get animals free from these. The best way to guard against tuberculosis is to buy from federally accredited herds or herds under federal super- vision. About the only way to guard against abortion is for the buyer to keep his eyes open when he goes to a farm to pur- chase calves. The field secretaries of the various states can be of the g'lcatest assistance to buyers in these respects, as they usually know where there has been trouble. What Age Calves Are Best? Three ages have been selected and success resulted in each case. They are baby calves from 3 to 6 weeks of age, yearlings and bred heifers. Each class has its advantages and disadvantages. Baby Calves The advantages of this class are that the initial cost is much less and a much wider field of selection may be had, as they can be shipped from almost anywhere by express. It is a greater achievement to take a little calf and grow it up than to take some of the older classes that are able to take care of themselves to a certain degree. Thus there is greater develop- ment for the club member with this kind of calf. This point is of considerable importance since club work is for the purpose of developing boys and girls rather than cattle. The close association of the club member with his calf creates a greater love for it, which makes for better care, \\nien this calf has become a cow there is no question about the owner not know- ing how to take care of the second calf. In the south the}' are less susceptible to ticks. The disadvantages are that the mortality is greater. In the experience of the writer it will average about 10 per cent. It takes a longer time to get returns on the investment if the calf is kept to maturity. It is not possible to tell much about the final type at the time they are bought. As a rule, fewer people have purebred calves of so young an age for sale. How- ever, they can usually be procured in a cheese or a wholemilk district. The writer has had considerable experience with calves of this age and finds them quite satisfactory, regardless of apparent difficulties. Yearling Calves It always seemed to the writer that Holsteins at this age sold at the greatest disadvantage at the public sales. To that extent this is a desirable age to purchase. The mortality should not be very great and the type is fairly well fixed by this time. The main disadvantage is that there is a long period between the purchase and the time any returns may be expected. Then, too, a calf at this age can rustle for itself to a certain extent and there is danger of it being turned out with the rest of the herd and neglected. Bred Heifers In many respects this is the most desirable age for calf club work. The buyer has opportunity to see how the animal has developed. The type is definitely fixed. The mammarjv' development is such that some idea of the milking qualities can be obtained. If they are purchased within 3 or 4 months of freshening the club member's interest is more easily main- tained by watching the rapid development from then to the time of freshening. It is not very long until returns from the investment may be expected, which can be applied to the pay- ment of the note. W hile the initial in\'estment is greater the almost immediate returns will enable the club member to pay it sooner. Some of the disadvantages are that this kind of an animal usually sells at a premium. When we consider that we are getting two in one this may not be so serious. If they are bought too close to freshening there is some danger in shipping. If the time of freshening is more than three months away they may not prove with calf and disappointment will result. The age of the calves chosen will depend on the amount of money available per club member, the length of time that money is available if it is borrowed and the age of the club members. If the club members are in age near the lower limit, I would prefer the baby calves ; if they are nearer the upper limit I think I would prefer the bred heifers. I think it would be easier to maintain the interest in either case. Conclusion In any event, I would carry sufticient insurance to cover unexpected loss. It would be a serious thing to have a club member go in debt for his calf and lose it and have this del:)t hanging over him. In closing, let me summarize. Buy as close to home as possible and only from reliable breeders. Place type above breeding. Look carefully to the health of the herds from which your calves come. Choose the age best suited to the age of your club members and the amount of money you have to in- vest. Be sure to provide a method whereby club members may pay their way out and still remain in the dairy business. J polstQin Ldlves Du Earl II? Upton Earl W. Upton, manager and part owner of the famous Dutch- land herd at Brockton, Mass., grew up on a farm near my home town of Lacona. N. Y. His early training was in general farming and with an ordinary dairy herd, his first Holstein experience com- ing after he had attained his ma- jority. After a little experience as herdsman in the pioneer herd of Henry Stevens & Sons, he went with Mr. Fred Field's Dutchland herd at Brockton, Mass., and there he has been ever since. Under his efficient management this herd has come to be recognized as one of the outstanding suc- cesses of the Holstein industry. By constructive breeding and intelligent care and management, the herd seems to groAv better year by year, until last year it stood out as the leading winner of production prizes in the Holstein-Friesian Associa- tion of America. Mr. Upton is the man on the job who sees that things are done as they ought to be. Whatever he does or whatever he takes responsil^ility for is well done. The his- tory of the Dutchland herd and of the successful retail milk business, also managed by Mr. Upton, is all the evidence needed to prove that point. — Maurice S. Prescott. jHE calf that is properly fed and handled Avill make a better and more profitable cow. Great care should be taken throughout the develop- ment of a calf, but more especially when, the calf is first born, as a large percentage of the losses in calves occurs before they are ten days old. The feed and treatment of the dam have quite an influence on the health of the calf, but in this article we shall endeavor to take the calf at birth and line up the care and treatment until it comes into milk. I When you are absolutely sure that the mother of the calf is perfectly healthy in every way, leave the calf with its mother for 48 hours, as nature has provided something in the colostrum milk that is hard to replace. That is, the colostrum milk seems to open up the bow^els and start digestion in the calf better than any other known method. Should there be anything wrong with the mother — that is, if she should have inflamma- tipn of the udder, retained afterbirth, or have any ailment that would tend to leave her in a feverish condition, the calf should be taken from her immediately after it is born. When the calf has not had the colostrum milk, we recom- mend feeding, after 12 hours, one quart of whole milk (this milk should be taken from some other fresh cow, preferably low in butterfat, and it should be fed at the same temperature as when taken from the cow) and one tablespoonful castor oil. This will act as a very fair substitute for the colostrum milk. What to Feed a Calf We would suggest feeding the calf one quart of milk three timers a day for the first five or six days and then gradually in- creasing until the calf is taking about two quarts three times daily, when it is two weeks old. It can then be safely changed from the three to the two-times-a-day feeding. We feel that starting a calf on a small amount of milk for the first two weeks enables us to build up a perfect digestion so that the calf later can take a much larger amount of milk and make more rapid gains than when overfed when young. When the calf is two weeks old, it \v\\\ start eating whole oats and corn — just a small amount. For some unknown r^ai-on this whole grain, which requires the calf to take time in order to masticate it, seems to aid digestion and give- much better results than the ground feed. Also start at this time to give the calf whatever water it will drink, three times a day. Also start giving some fine clover or alfalfa hay when the calf is about three weeks old. Never feed timothy. Gradually increase on the milk until it is getting at least eight quarts, when it is five weeks old, at which time we suggest changing from the whole to the skimmilk. Start this by adding a quart of the skimmilk to the wholemilk ration and increase each feed until it has changed to the skimmilk. As soon as the calf is on a whole ration of skimmilk, we use a gruel made from equal parts of linseed meal and corn or hominy meal. This gruel is made with boiling water to the consistency of heavy molasses and is fed in the milk. If possible, we like to continue the skimmilk and gruel ration with the hay and whole grain until the calf is about six months old. We then change to the ground grain with a little silage and beet pulp and with a grain ration consisting of equal parts of bran, ground oats, linseed meal, and one-half parts hominy or corn meal. We feed them on silage and whatever grain they will lick up clean in 15 minutes and then follow this feed with hay, preferably an Alsike mixed. Probably there is no one thing at this stage that is more helpful than a large amount of hay as it develops capacity and gives the calf a large barrel which later is very essential if the calf IS to develop into a cow that will convert a large amount of roughage into milk. We feel confident that calves that are especially well grown for the first year will be greater producers if they are turned to pasture and get entirely away from the grain feeding for several months. We like to breed them so they will come in milk when about 27 or 28 months old, and when coming from pasture after months without anything except what they get in the pasture, they are in ideal shape to fit for either a seven- day or a year record. Overfeeding on Wholemilk We have seen many splendid animals that have been spoiled by overfeeding, especially wath wholemilk. They be- come too fat, which seems to become a part of their nature so that when they come in milk they still retain this flesh which they have always had and will not make the same large pro- duction as the heifer that has been to pasture and away from this continual grain feeding. Whatever method is used in feeding, remember there are two or three very important things to bear in mind to get the best results. First, be sure that the animal, after it becomes five or six months of age, is fed to develop capacity and barrel. Second, guard against the animal's being too fat from the time It is a year old to the time it is within two or three months of calving. Third, be sure that the animal after it is four weeks old is given plenty of exercise throughout its entire develop- ing stage. Ittiti^ Cal\)es ^ for the 3hovJ Du O.O.Zohrinsi Oscar O. Zehring of German- town, Ohio, is a self-made Hol- stein man. Starting in the busi- ness with very httle capital or edu- cation along breeding and dairy- ing lines, he has, by diligent appli- cation, made himself well in- formed on every phase of the sub- ject. He has been particularly successful in his breeding oper- ations, having bred and developed a number of state champion pro- ducers as well as first-prize win- ners at the National Dairy Show. When the National Dairy Show came down to Columbus in 1917, Mr. Zehring was on the job with his entire herd, and there were no culls in the bunch, either. He secured a number of first prizes and was one of the heaviest winners in the show. He is vice-president of the Ohio Holstein-Friesian Association, and the association showed its confidence in his ability and judgment when they placed him in charge of their show herd which made the southern circuit in 1921. — Maurice S. Prescott. ITTING animals for the show is a great deal more important than beginners generally realize. No old showman overlooks the importance of proper fitting. He begins many months in ad- vance to bring his animals gradually into the I)est possible condition. Fitting — proper fitting — must be learned by experience, the same as any other phase of dairying. However, the following general recommendations will serve as a basis for successful conditioning of animals with special reference to calves. Keep each calf by itself, let no two calves be in the same stall, if it can be avoided. No two calves can be handled the same. Diseases are less likely to be communicated when this rule is observed. Keep the calves in the barn and allow them all the sun- shine they can get. This sunshine should come in through the windows of the stable, and not directly on the calf out in the barn yard. The calf should not be put out on pasture under a year of age. Let it exercise in the yard for a little while each day. Pasture does not furnish enough nutriment for the growing calf, and its digestive organs have not been developed suffi- ciently to handle grass in quantity. Do not blanket calves unless you are preparing for show- ing. Blanketing raises the heat so that the hair will not grow, whereas natural temperature and ordinary handling will in- duce the hair to grow as a protective covering. Later the blanket can be put on. Good l^lankets can be purchased from various houses, but as a rule a satisfactory blanket for a calf can be made from burlap sacks, sewing two of these together and attaching straps on each side which fasten around the hind legs and are secured at the hips. One strap fastens under the animal immediately behind the front legs and one strap holds the blanket at the neck. For your summer show ])egin to fit your calf three months ahead of" the usual time, say June Lst. You have a definite day to get ready for and it is your task to get the calf or ani- mal you are showing in bloom just at the right time. Brushing calves stimulates circulation of the blood, which aids digestion. A common horse brush is generally used, al- though some dairymen prefer a grass wheat brush. The glossy skin on a calf is evidence of good feeding. Crushed oats are an excellent feed for the calf. Calves feel their oats just as horses do — they show more life and snap when on this feed.' By all means, do not overfeed and ruin your calf. Don't be too anxious, as you have plenty of time. Only by gradually bringing the animal into condition can you succeed. Over- feeding may cause bloat, which, though perhaps not fatal, will certainly set your calf back beyond all hopes of successfully fitting it by show time. If a calf alwavs comes up to eat, is alert and shows a bright eye, you can be sure that its feed is doing the work. If the opposite is true and the calf acts slug- gish or its coat shows up rough and its ears droop, the calf is not doing well on its feed. Clip your animal about two weeks before showing. This gives the coat a chance to grow out nicely and does not show that it has been clipped. Polishing the Horns Before clipping, wash your calf to remove the dirt and other material from the coat, making it possible for the clip- pers to work smoothly. Your calf will stand better as the clippers will not pull. If the horns need attention, use a rasp on older animals, and remove all the first rough layer present. On calves use a file. Follow this by sandpaper or emery paper, using, first, a coarse grade and then a real fine grade. Next, mix a little sweet oil with pumice stone on a flannel rag and rub the horns briskly by drawing the cloth over them. Some breeders also use rotten stone, a black material, which, mixed with water, will give the same result. Both rotton stone and pumice can be secured at any drug store. Do not work on the horns too vigorously with the rasp or sandpaper, or you will cause the blood to come. The hoofs of the animals are fixed up in the same way. For the final gloss apply a little shoe polish. This will give the horns and hoofs the high polish. In putting on the polish for the first time work patiently and get a very high gloss. This will last several days, sometimes several weeks. A day before the show go over the horns again. Fluffing the Tail To make the tail of the animal nice and fluflfy, wash the tail in soapsuds the day before the showing and while wet and still a little soapy braid it tightly and keep it tied over night until about an hour before you are to go into the ring. Then comb and flufif it out. From the very first week that you have your calf let it get accustomed to a halter and lead it around for its daily exer- cise. If possible, run and play with it every day. It's good fun and you will enjoy it as much as the calf will. Soon the calf learns to follow by the halter, and when show time comes your calf will stand or lead just as you want it to do. ^hovi?it^ riolstems inther^nS Du Tred E.KhissQndon Fred Klussendorf is one of a family of livestock men. As man- ager of Meadow Lane Farm, Wau- kesha, Wis., he picked out the foundation animals that have won grand championships at the Na- tional Dairy Show for the past two years and he also selected the bull and his ofifspring which won first prize in the get of sire class the past two years at the National Dairy Show. Fred Klussendorf is a high type of showman, always courteous and a good sportsman, but alert and on his toes to show his animal at its best. For the past two years he has been in charge of Wisconsin's state show herd, awarded first prize in the state herd contest at the National Dairy Show both years. — Maurice S. Prescott. jSSUMING that the animal that you are to show has been selected with all the skill at your com- mand; that it is an animal showing constitution and capacity ; that it conforms as far as possible to the highest standards of breed type ; that it shows all the indications of production and dairy temperament and quality ; that it has been properly fitted ; that you have led and posed it every day for a long time ; given that all these things have been done faithfully and well, you are ready to lead it into the ring. Have a neat-looking halter on the calf. It need not be an expensive one but should fit well and be of good appearance. Don't have a rope on it big enough to tie an elephant nor have fringes hanging all around but let it be clean and neat. Have your calf or older animal so trained that it will walk into the ring with head up, and without any pulling and haul- jng. Take your place in the line and keep a space of at least three feet between your animal and the next. In the Ring Now remember that for the length of time that your ani- mal is in the ring your whole attention should be given to that animal and to the judge. Do not let your attention be drawn from your work in the ring. This means no visiting with Johnnie Jones ; no looking over the crowd to see if they are all watching you. You must be entirely occupied with seeing that your animal is standing sc^uarely on its feet ; that you keep it properly posed at all times. Above everything, at this par- ticular point, do not allow it to stretch itself after the manner of a saddle horse — as so many the past year seemed inclined to do. Some believe that this may cover up a slopey rump, but it never deceives the judge, and it usually brings out other faults. As the judge comes down the ring toward you, stand on the opposite side from him, so that he may see at a glance the top line, length and depth of body, and the entire general out- line of your animal. After he has passed you, quietly step to the other side — always remembering that } our animal, your- self and the judge are the only things to be considered by you while in the ring. When the judge walks up to you to examine your animal, be sure to stand on the opposite side, and, as he feels of the hide, allow the head of your calf to very slightly turn toward him. This will enable him to take hold of it more easily and determine its softness and ciuality. He will now examine for veining and milk-well openings, for ribbing and openness of vertebrae ; in females, for placing of teats, attachment and qual- ity of udder; in males, for placing of rudimentaries and how well cut out behind ; also for length and levelness of hip. zA.s he w^alks to the head of your animal to examine that, and to better observe the spring of fore rib and depth of chest, stand slightly to one side. Your calf should be so well trained that }'OU will be able to do this without the animal moving from position. Be courteous to the judge and superintendent or other persons in charge. Do as you are told by them, and, should you leave the ring without a ribbon, do not go away discour- aged but with a determination to get the blue next time. Find out where your faults were and correct them. After the ribbons are given out, if you have any question that you would like to ask the judge, do not hesitate to do so. The entire purpose of the show ring is to teach us as breeders of dairy animals what are the essentials of a really high-class animal. The fact that you may fool the judge temporarily does not help the breed or the person showing. It is as much to your interest to know what are the faults of your animals as it is to know whether you are first or last. Whether Ted Smith wins or Johnnie Jones wins is not the most important point. But it is absolutely vital that the proper animals shall be placed at the top, in order that you boys and the breeders may study and take home with you in your minds just what constitutes an animal of the best conformation. The Calf Club at the Community Club Picnic An Oregon Holsiein Calf Club Isteinfriesian Tyipe Du U/S.Moscnp W. S. Moscrip of Lake Elmo. Minn., is the outstanding figure among the Holstein judges on this continent. He places the ribbons at more of the big fairs than any other Holstein judge. For the past seven years he has judged at the National Dairy Show, for three or four years at the Pacific International at Portland, Oregon, also several years at the Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto, the Eastern States Exposition . at Springfield, Mass., and many state fairs ranging all the way from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota as far south as Texas. It isn't all theory with Mr. Moscrip either. He carries his show-ring ideas and ideals into his own business and as a re- sult has developed a herd of individuals that will compare favor- ably with any herd in the country and which has made no mean showing from the standpoint of production. W. S. Moscrip, probably more than any other one man, has been responsible for the attention breeders are now giving to correct type in their animals and the general acceptance of the principle that production and type logically go together. Mr. Moscrip went into the Holstein business as a mere boy without capital but with rather definite ideas of what he wanted to accomplish and an inflexible determination to carry it through. That the Holstein cow will reward such treatment is plainly evident when you visit Mr. Moscrip's farm near St. Paul, where you wall find one of the best practical Holstein plants to be seen anywhere. The rise of W. S. Moscrip and the success he has achieved with the Holstein cow should be an inspiration to every beginner. Alaurice S. Prescott, Edito} Holstein-Friesian World, Lacona, N. Y. Y UNDERSTANDING of the expression so often used, or applied to an animal as "Typey" is that it is as nearly as possible an ideal repre- sentative of its breed, having all the essential characteristics of that breed. In starting out to select your foundation animals, or in choosing from your herd already established, to obtain the highest possible suc- cess you must so train yourself that you can readily recognize an animal of superior type. The Holstein breed has made wonderful progress during the past few years, but it is im- perative that we all continue our efiforts toward attaining maximum perfection in the conformation of our animals. You must select animals with great, deep, well-sprung middles. Avoid the kind that have the appearance, when viewed from the rear, of an under-fed sunfish. In the middle are the digestive organs that manufacture into milk the food we give our animals, and they must be large in order to have the necessary room to handle a great amount of bulky feeds. Remember, our Holstein type is not exemplified by the cow that will exist on the smallest possible amount of feed, but is the cow that will consume and turn into milk the greatest pos- sible amount of feed beyond what is needed for bodily main- tenance. Consequently, we must have the tremendous capac- ity that is found in the animal of our ideal type. Now, you must select the ones that have the strength and constitution to carry on their tremendous labor. Remember that a heavy producing cow is the hardest working animal on any farm. She must be deep through the chest, and have wide spring of fore-rib. This chest cavity contains the heart and lungs, and, in order to properly do their work, they must have ample room. An undesirable type sometimes found has the appearance of having been drawn in behind the shoulders with a belt. The shoulders should be fine — free from any coarseness. The vertebrae should be very open from the shoulders along the back and free from flesh. This will not be so pronounced in animals in good flesh that are dry and soon to freshen ; nor in heifers that are below the milking age. A great change very frequently takes place in the structure of the shoulders during the first lactation period. In these animals, you must learn that the broad shoulders will, as it is put, "milk off." The neck must be clean-cut and fine, neatly attached to tha body, and free from any coarseness or superfluous flesh. The head should appear as clean and fine as if chiseled by a master sculptor, the veins standing out prominently on the face, and the entire head free from any meatiness. The eyes must be expressive of great intelligence, and large and bright and full — the term is : broad between the eyes. The nostrils must be wide — very wide and full ; a large, broad mouth; a clean, powerful jaw. The entire* head must be clean- cut, showing intelligence and temperament. The udder of our ideal type is one whose attachment to the body is both long and broad, the udder coming up well behind, and joining the body smoothly in front. The floor, or bottom, should be level ; the teats of medium size, placed well apart and squarely upon the udder. It is desirable that the udder be covered with a network of prominent veins. When milked out the udder should be soft and pliable and free from any indication of meatiness. In our ideal Holstein cow you will find milk veins that are long and crooked and branch- ing, entering large and easily discovered openings. Veins that are long and branching, and which enter numerous wells, are much to be preferred to shorter, heavier veins. In superior animals, we often find a very well defined middle vein. The hide should be soft, pliable, and covered with soft, fine hair. An animal of the type described above will have a stylish appearance, an alert carriage, an intelligent look, which will impress you with the fact that she is wide-awake, ready to take advantage of every opportunity of converting feed into milk. I want to take this opportunity to impress on your minds that in order to become successful breeders of high-class dairy animals, you must be able to see and acknowledge defects in your own animals and to see and acknowledge the superiority of the other fellow's — if they are superior. Study superior types as often as opportunity offers. Show your animals as often as you can. Keep trying to make each succeeding gener- ation better than the one before. No higher calling than yours, as breeders of dairy cattle, exists. No one — no matter what his calling or profession — can do more for the advancement of our country than can you, by producing better dairy animals than have been produced before. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ' \m'm\\ ri iiiii ^ 002 826 375 2 ^ Copyright, 1922, by The Holstein-Friesian Association of America Brattleboro, Vermont FREO L KIMBALL COMPANr. WATERLOO. IOWA KS?-^^^ OFCOV^' ,GR£SS illW^26lT52