Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
Large Versus Small Cows.

the editorial. therein published.
Large Versus Small Cows.
Il is question worthy Of serious consider
alton to the ordinary dairy farmer, which
viii yield the greater proft-supposin tn,
annual product Of butter to be the same
herd Of large cows, or herd Of small ones
For If there is difference in this case, It il
probably large enough to be worth taking
account Of. 1t is estimated that COW il
milk requires three per cent daily Of her liv,
weight in good hay, to keep up her weight and
maintain her flow Of milk. This is the av
erage Of several herds being four thousand
three hundred and twenty pounds for one
hundred and eighty days the cows averag
ing eight hundred pounds each This cal
culation will apply equally well as a stand
ard Of comparison, whether the herd is fed
entirely upon hay, or whether roots or grain,
or both, constitute part Of the ration since
it requires an equivalent proportion Of food
material, be that what it may, to so maintain
the animal that she shall neither lose weight
nor shrink in her milk, except by the nat
ural decline caused by the growth of the
calf in wero.
Now, in the present state Of our dairying
interest, it is a good herd Of cows which
will give an average annual product Of but
ter equal two hundred pounds per COW. The
average of the state lies probably between
one hundred and twenty aud one hundred
and thirty pounds per COW while e1ccp
tional herds yield two hundred and fifty
two hundred and seventy-iye and, in one OF
two instances, three hundred pounds pen
two hundred pounds from his herd Of about
thirty-four Shorthorn grades Mr. Cramp-
ton, of Swanton, gets an average Of two hun
dred and seventy-ive pounds from twenty
one selected common cows. Mr.. Wood
of North Pomfret, averages three hundred
pounds from his herd of Jerseys and Jersey
grades, numbering fourteen and the aver
age Of some five or six other similar herds
in the same town, ranges between two
hundred aud fifty and two hundred and
eightyfve pounds
We have seen the herds of Mr.. Dougla,
and Mr.. Wood, and should not hesitate Il
say that the former averages two hundred
pounds per COW the heavier, A selection o
the fourteen best cows from this superio
lot would give an extra choice herd of tina
class of cows yet it is doubtful If thei
product would equal that of Mr.. Wood
herd, including old cows and heifers, the hes
and the poorest. But allowing the yield o
these two herds of fourteen each to be equal
aud the butter to be equally good and to sci
for the same price, which would be the mos
profitable herd for farmer to keep?
We do not presume TO give a positive dc
cision upon this point though we have al
opinion, subject to modification under Tia
pressure of facts. The foundation of thi
opinion is the following calculation
We will suppose that the average term o
profitable service for dairy COW is sevei
years, and that these two herds consume
feed during the winter months equal to three
per cent of their live weight daily. TAX,
Mr.. Douglas select fourteen, and average
their weight at eight hundred pounds
Take Mr.. Woods fourteen, and averag
them at six hundred pounds. Mr.. Douglas
herd will weigh eleven thousand two hun
dred pounds Mr.. Woods, eight thousan,
four hundred pounds. Mr.. Douglas her
will consume three hundred and thirty-si,
pounds of hay per day, or sixty thousan'
four hundred and eighty pounds in one hun
dred and eighty days Mr.. Woods her,
will consume two hundred and fifty-tw
pounds day, or forty-fye thousand tire
hundred and sixty pounds in one hundre,
and eighty days. Multiply these sums b,
seven, the assumed number of profitable
years service for each cow, and we find tn
winter consumption of food in that time, 70
Mr.. Douglas herd to be four hundred an,
twenty-threc thousand three hundred an,
sixty pounds, or one hundred and eighty
nine tons, nearly; that Of Mr. Woods herd
three hundred and seventeen thousand fiv
hundred and twenty pounds, or one hundrc
and forty-two tons, nearly difference o
forty-seven tons Of hay in seven years.
But this is not all the difference since Ia
excess in tho consumption Of the one her
over the other will be carried into the sun
mor months also, and whatever the valu
and cost of pasturing may be, that of Nj
Douglas herd would still be twenty-five pc
cent in excess of Mr.. Woods. But suppos
we set off this with the excess of manur
from Mr.. Douglas cows. We will then SUI
pose that both herds, being past their us
fitness for the dairy, are sold off for wh'
they will bring. Estimating the value
the hay consumed by Mr. Douglas herd
excess of the value of that eaten by NJ
Woods herd, at ten dollars ton, we fin
that Mr.. Douglas old cows must brin
$40, Tor s33.57 eaeh) more than Mr.. Wood
in order to bring the account out even.
Now these figures are all imaginary, it
true, though founded on fact. But wher
ever there was a chance for difference @
opinion, we have given the benefit of th
doubt to the supposed herd of Mr., Douglas
and yet that herd comes ont in the en-
s3357 per head worse than that of Nj
Wood. If any one else can figure it diffe
emily, or place the facts in relation to thes
or any other herds in different light, W
shall be glad to have him do it. What doe
Mr. Douglas say?
Quantity Of Manure per Cow.
Very few farmers have any idea Of tn
amount of fertilizing material produced b