Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-02-06
BUTTER AND CHEESE.
Interesting Dlacussion at tho Annual
Meeting nf the Northwestern Dairy.
meas Association.

Interesting Diacussion at tho Annual
Meeting "f the Northwestern Dairy
| meas Association.
Among the papers read at the annual
meeting of the Northwestern Dairy
mems Association, in Whitewater, was
one by H. G. Drake, of Lake Mills, on
tho
| Mr.. Drake was in favor of one large
pasture instead of two or three smaller
ones. There should he a variety and
succession Of grasses. Shades should
be provided. Pure water is of the first
importance. The pasturage should be
extensive enough to give ample feed
ut all seasons. They should especially
have enough Of tho food they like best.
In England some thirty or thirty five
different kinds Of grasses are in gene
raj use. Some impart desirable fra.
grancc to the hay made from them, and
arc eaten with peculiar relish. Roots
have been too much neglected.
They are greatly relishcd by stock.
The growth of weeds in meadows and
pastures should be prevented, rs they
are eaten by tho cows, and impart an
undesirable flavor to the butter and
cheese. Coed board fences were de.
sirable in the place OF the old, tumble
down rail fences which are 30 common.
As to dairy barn, it should be roomy.
well ventilated, just warm enough to
keep the COWS comfortable, with floors
laid upon joisting and provided with
sufficient trenches to carry off the
liquid manure to place where it can
bo we'll preserved. Cattle should be
supplied with water in the stable
by some means during winter.
The barn should be arranged
for the comfort of the cows
and tho convenience of the dairy
man. He would sum up all this: '.Be
sure to give your cows rs good o barn
as your purse will possibly allow" As
to crops, it was desirable to raise those
which have value, both as cattle feed
and in the market. The influence OF
particular kinds Of grasses, grains and
roots upon she question of quantity
and quality Of milk, and upon the fla
vor of butter end cheese, arc subjects
on which constant experiments are
being made. Whatever crops are
Ewortb having are worth taking care of,
and whatever is worth doing at all is
worth doing we'll.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY COW.
Prof. Miles, of the Michigan Agri-
cultural College, addressed the associ-
alton on the <'breeds, feeding, and
general management of the dairy COW. :"
He urged the importance OF pure
breeding, and coEtended that it would
pay the ordinary dairy farmer to take
pains in this direction. He explained
the minutie of pedigree, and showed
the impossibi6ty of getting peaigreed
animals at low fignres. There were
fashionable breeds that cost fancy pri-
ces, but thoroughly well-bred animals
must necessarily be expensive. To
improve IN ordinary breed l would
select first.class bull of good milking
stock, and IL I could not replace him
the following season would breed him
once on his own progeny. Judicions
selection should also be made of the
COWS. Il viii not do to breed from
your whole herd. Choose the cows
that have the best milking qualities.
have done this on a small scale, for
some time back, and have now six
cows OF extra making qualities. 10
succeed in gettluB up a good herd
requires peculiar qualities in the
breeder. He must: be observant, have
y weil-balanced mind, and not be led
away by favoritisn for pet animals.
Sometimes there is & rage for particu-
lar colors, regardless of more import
ant points. In Short Horns there is q
great preference for roan's, yet whites
have often taken prizes against roans,
because of excellence rs to general
points. He would specify, as character
istics to be desired, small head, thin
neck, and forequarters generally, broad
pelvis and large abdomen, soft skin,
large milk veins, and a good escutcheon
or milk mirror. He would get as many
of these poinSs us possible, not relying
exclusively on any one point. In re-
gard to breeds, there are several worthy
notice. The jersey was a good dairy
animal, but was not to be recommended
for general use. She is gentleman &
COW, yielding rich milk, and valuable
for family supply. She is improbable
! for the farmer, as she does not fatten
readily when her period of usefulness
| as q mixer as eve1. The Brittany COW
| is good mixer, but very small. The
Kerry COW is also valuable, but is
best adapted for rough, mountainous
districts. She is hardy, but is long in
coming to maturity. The Ayrshire is,
in my opinion, the best tor dairy pur
poses. Her udder is broad, well
formed, capaciolrE, and the teats are
we'll separated. They fa1ten readily
One objection to them is that the teats
are rather small, making it inconvenieat
to milk them. This breed has not beer
sufficiently selected, and hence many
common specimens have been distri
buted. There is reason 70 believe that
owing to greater care in this respect
there are now better specimens of Ayr
tshires in this country than in SCOTLAND
itself.
| In regard to feeding and management
|'gcnerally it should be such as to nurs'
and bring out the best qualities. Feec
and management have great eAcec
on natural points. Regularity is O
the greatest Importance in feeding. S.
it is in everything. Cows ought to b.
MIXED in g certain order. These mi
mute matters are sometimes ridiculed
but they have their bearing. A wis
man will regard nothing as trifie tina
} contributes to success. With RICH
means every dairyman can keep hi
herd constantly improving, and tina
; is what should be aimed at.
, John H. Carswell, q practical farme,
> did not agree with Mr.. Miles as to ligll
, forequarters. There must be goo
heart and good lungs as we'll as larg
. stomach. The Short Horn he did nc
| think much OF. They were for shodd
| spectators. He believed in the Je1
| seys-commended them to the ladis
) for family use, but farmers wanted
larger breed. There was greatdihel
ence between breed and a race. TAX
the Devons. They are race. The
E don't need any of your pedigrees. Ct
g a race and they will keep up their cha
acteristics. Having got such q race
4 ~ A