Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-02-13

Interesting Discussion mt the Annual
Meeting of the Northwestern Dairy
mems Association.

Among the papers read Mt the annual
meeting of the Northwestern Dairy
mems Association. In Whitewater, was
one by II. C. Drake, of Lake Mills, on
the
DAIRY FARM.
Mr. Drake was in favor of one large
pasture instead of two or three smaller
ones. There should be 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
at all seasons. They should especially
have enough of the food they like best.
In England some thirty or thlrty.tive
different kinds of grasses are in gene.
raj use. Some impart desirable fra,
GRANGE to the hay made from them, and
are eaten with peculiar relish. Roots
have been too much neglected
They are greatly relished by stock.
The growth of weeds IN meadows and
pastures should be prevented, as they
are eaten by the COWS, and impart an
undesirable flavor to the butter and
cheese. Good board fences were de
sirable in the place, of the old, tumble
down rail fences which are 80 common.
AS to a 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 of the
liquid manure to n place where it can
be 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 the convenience of the dairy
man. lie would sum up all this ''Be
sure to give your cows AS good barn
rs yoNr 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 the question OF quantity
and quality of milk, and upon the fla
vor of butter and cheese, are subjects
ON which constant experiments are
being made. Whatever crops are
worth having are worth taking care of,
and whatever is worth doing at all is
worth doing well.
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 contended that 1t would
pay the ordinary dairy farmer to take
pains in this direction. He explained
the minutia of pedigree, and showed
the impossibility of getting pedigreed
animals at low figures. There were
fashionable breeds that cost fancy pri-
ces, but thoroughly well-bred animals
must necessarily be expensive. To
improve an ordinary breed | would
select a first.class bull of good milking
stock, and if | could not replace him
the following season would breed him
once on his own progeny. Judicions
selection should also be made of the
cows. 1t will not do to breed from
your whole herd. Choose the COWS
that have the best milking qualities
| have done this ON small scale, for
some time back, and have now six
cows OF extra milking qualities. To
succeed In getting up a good herd
requires peculiar qualities in the
breeder. He must be observant, have
ell-balanced mind, and not be led
away by favoriti3m for pet animals.
Sometimes there is Il rage for particu-
lar colors, regardless Of more import
ant points. In Short Horns there Is
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 good escutcheon
or milk mirror. He would get rs many
of thes. points as possible, not relying
exclusively on any one point. In re-
gard 10 breeds, there are several worthy
notice. The Jersey was good dairy
animal, but was not to be recommended
for general use. She is a 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 a mixer as ever. The Brittany COW
is a 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 for dairy pur-
poses. Her udder is broad, well
formed, capacious, and the teats are
well separated. They fatten readily
One objection to them is that the teats
are rather small, making it announcement
to milk them. This breed has not been
sufficiently selected, and hence many
common specimens have been distri-
buted There is reason to believe that,
owing to greater care in this respect.
there are now better specimens of Ayr
shires in this country than in Scotland
itself.
I'm regard 70 FEEDING and uapaoampnt