Normal growth standards for female and male dairy cattlc
arc presented in tables and curves. These data' represent various
lines of breeding and systems of management and are based upon
weights and measurements taken in the Missouri, Kansas il'nd iowa
Agricultural Experiment Station herds. Measurements taken in
the herds of representative breeders and dairy farmers in the several
states are presented in the form of curves and compared with
t he normal standards.
Reference is made to data indicating that the growing dairy
animal uses food less efficiently with advancing age and that greater
economy may be attained by growing heifers and bulls somewhat
morc rapidly than is customary on many da-iry farms.
It is suggested that chronological age is not necessarily an
index of physiological and developmental age and that developmental
ages also be used as a guide in breeding dairy heifers