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Reminiscences on Dairy Cattle Breeding

Animal Husbandry Research Division, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland

ABSTRACT

How many of you readers recall the "rag doll" germination test for seed corn? Those who do also remember seeing the carefully selected ears of corn hanging from the rafters of the barn or feed room, to protect them from damage by rats and mold. These are memories of the days when most farmers selected their seed corn in the field and, in a sense, were corn breeders. The introduction of hybrid corn has made corn breeding and seed corn production a highly specialized business, and the modern farmer has benefited tremendously from this revolutionary change in producing this basic crop.

Maybe some of you can recall when the barnyard flock of chickens was replenished by random breeding and nest incubation. Nowadays, even if the small flock of hens is maintained only to supply the home needs, it is quite apt to be replaced yearly with a cardboard box of chicks from a commercial hatchery.