Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-07
farm mud Nonseltnla.
Mich Cows and their Treatment.

THAT pure-bred Attorney, Durham,
Dutch or other breeds make the only good
COWS we have, for family or other dairy
purposes, is not fact, they, like all other
stock, varying, and to as great an extent.
While | believe in and admire pure-bred,
excellent and handsome stock, both oxen
and COWS, yet cannot be insensible to the
merits of those Of less distinguished
lineage.
Our natives and grades make az good
dairy and family cows as the average OF
pure-bred 80 far as 1 am posted; to be
sure, they are not all good dairy stock,
neither do find that to be the case with
any other breed very true, some families
of foreign blood cows give us excellent
family and dairy cows. With the same
care and selection in breeding, ETC., of
common COWS, breeding only males and
females Of the most desirable dairy quail
ties, we can have those Of ss even sure
qualities as any other breed yet, where
improvements have been made, it is better
to bring these to our aid than spend the
necessary time to arrive ct the same stage.
From observation and experience con-
clude that if we will select our best ma
tive, or grade-as native is a somewhat
IuuSlIulbC ICIul-COW6, buOoC VI SoOo oiAC1
best in form, giving the richest and most
milk, and breeding them to males of pure
blood, selected from families of similar or
improved qualities, that we shall have
race of dairy stock equal to any that can
be imported, especially if instead of dea-
coming all the calves, or selling the incest
and best to the butcher, we raise suita-
BILE proportion to keep our dairy stock on
the increase in quality, giving the stock
thus raised good and judicious care during
its younger years. The raising of dairy
stock is a subject worthy of being treated
at length, and is not here introduced.
Having attained our object in point of
quality in COWS, the next consideration is
to retain and improve upon it by care and
good management. While good care will
serve to retain and improve on qualities
obtained, the reverse will as surely deteri
crate those qualities. In the first place, a
COW giving milk should have all the good
feed she will consume, summer and winter,
with suitable allowance of pure, clean
water to drink, and good comfortable
stables during winter, with access to shell
ter in inclement weather during summer
and fall be MIXED at regular stated in
tervals, by the same mixer, who shall per-
form the milking in the least possible time,
and do it thoroughly; and in dairy OF
several cows, in regular successlon-that is
the same COWS follow each other in being
MIXED, in regular course at each milking
and whatever feeding, or other caring for,
should be done in the same regular, orderly
course Cows in milk, as well as all other
stock, and they in particular, should have
salt where they can have constant access to
it-not only for their health, but for the
quality and quantity of milk, and to keep
up constant flow. They should be milk
ed to within three or four weeks of calv-
ing and every milking should be thorough,
extracting the last drop.
have known COWS of common capacity,
where this course has been pursued, prove
of greater profit than others of greater
capacity, where the milking and care were
less thorough. have also had cows which,
while treated as I would care for them,
have proved good ones, and sold to others
to go on different pastures, and under differ
ent care, have failed to prove one-half as
profitable to them. The product of the cow
is frequently ed-thoughtlessly, it is
true-by driving from pasture to milk, and
being MIXED while warm or excited from
exercise. 1t is often better, if the COWS
have to be driven mile or more to pas
ture, to milk them there and carry the
milk, rather than drive them up to the
barn in the hottest weather. In such case
there should be yard, with shelter, in
which to inclose them at night; as have
found that COWS will do better, at least
equally as WELL yarded at night, than if
allowed to go at large in the pasture A
large run for cows in milk is detrimental
to quality of milk; the COW that gets her
fill in short time, then lies down to rum
mate quietly, will do much better than the
same one required to spend much longer
time in obtaining the same amount of
food
have often noticed cows pastured in
pastures which are much infested with
bushes-I say infested, because. a pasture
for mich COWS should be free of bushes, as
they furnish harbor for almost any guam
tity of flies, mosquitoes, ETC., if not other
wise Objectionable suitable shade trees
ought to be provided in all pastures, but
the freer from bushes and weeds, the
less liability Of cows obtaining anything
detrimental to their health and the quality
of milk. AS health is of the first impor-
lance to the quality of the cows product,
that should be strictly looked after, and all
means used to preserve it; and if one is
found ailing, she should be Immediately
separated from all others Of the herd, and
her case attended to thoroughly till cured.
A COW well kept and in thriving condi-
ton, will be less exhausted and bring bet
ter calves, MIXED to within three or four
weeks of calving, than one not thus kept
and allowed to go dry three or four months
and while one will pay a fair profit, the
other will pay no profit, if she is not an
actual expense.-0or. Country Gentleman.