Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-04-11
horticultural,
Fa- ue ONFcVu pFvocE,r.
Dairy Cattle.

The hrSt requisite for successful,
profitable dairy, Is good stock. Ii 4 half
dozen cows are kept to produce the milk
which one 6rst-c,asS animal would supply,
the prodts-if there are any-are reduced
bv Just the value OF the food consumed by
the five unnecessary suimsls.and the value
OF the care and labor expended upon
them. |; Is often said that 1t costs no
more to teed COW worth one hundred
dollars than 10 feed one worth but twenty
dollars, and this Is true to certain e1-
tent.
Ii does, however, cost more TO feed 4
COW as she should Re fed which Is produc-
ing twenty quarts Of milk per day, than
one which Yields hut ten quarts but it
does not cost - much a. It would to feed
two like the latter. The difference l.
quite appreciable; snd II the good All
ma Is kept, the difference l. 80 much
profit 70 her owner. Such being the
ease, II Is highly important that every
farmer should procure fine stock OF cows.
Animals which are adapted TO his soil and
climate, and which have proved themselves
to be good mixers. The best way 10 Sc
cure such, j. 70 raise l,is own CONS from
birth. Such calves A. are born OF good,
large mixers, should be raised TO supply
the place OF their dams when the latter
are no longer serviceable. Il j. not neces-
sary that a herd OF cattle should be
thoroughly bred 20 DC profitable; though
many agricultural writers would have Us
believe the contrary There are many
herds OF native cattle, which are contemp-
tuoosly denomiuattd scrubs. by breeders
o. fancy cattle. which are more profitable
than many costly thoroughly bred herds
but they have becu selected with care,
and well fed aud tended, and /, Is largely
owing 10 extra care attention that blOOded
cattle are superior, in the main. to na-
tiyeS.
II farmer owns a good COW. one that
yields large quantity Of milk, or milk
Of an unusually exce.ien, quality, it will
pay him 10 raise her helier calves for
mixers; provided he does not counteract
the good qualities Of the mother by the
bad ones OF the sire. Ii i always advis-
able % produce the services Of a blooded
bull when 1t l. practicable 10 10 so, be-
cause We can count with tolersble certain.
" ur,n the ca.treQrCiuciug the qualities
of the sire. sud liz Is one Of family bred
Tor oc-> with special reference to the pro-
ductiOn Of quantity or quality Of milk,
the chances are much greater Of producing
q valuable calf for the dairy, than if
bull ! Used whose family has no such
special desirability.
The call, when born. should not be
s,inted in feed. There should DC no at
temp; 10 see how cheap.y she NAV be
raised The effort should be to see how
rapidly she can be made TO grow. and
rapid growth, can only be secured by ljb-
era feed and good care. All the good
bay which II will eat should be fed during
the winter, and 4 plentiful supply OF roots
and grain should also be allowed. The
object must be TO raise large COW, for
other things being equal, the larger ami
ma viii yield the greater quantity Of
milk. The calf must not be stunted by
exposure. but housed in comfortable quart
ers during cold storms, while il should be
allowed plenty Of out door exercise dur
ing fine weather.
When a heifer has her 6rst calf, she
should be fed literally with bran. shorts
and roots, in addition TO hay or pasture sc-
eordiDg 10 the season. The distending of
the milk veins and udder which will take
place under such a course Of feeding. will
enable the COW 10 produce larger guam
tity Of milk ever after, than she could
under different aud drier diet. Cattle
should never be confined to diet Of hay.
II Is unnatural and not conducive 10 the
best health aud growth. Roots should
form part % the winter feed.
In purchasing cows It j. desirable TO
learn, if possible, what kind Of mixers
were their dams.
There are some points which usually are
found in good mixers which it is well to
remember Amileh COW should he broad
across the hips with prominent milk
veins, a snail head. thin neck, slim horns
and large, full, quiet eye. The milk
mirrOr-a line Of hair turned upwards on
the inner side Of the thigh-should be
well defined, aud the lower part should
De broad aud well spread out OfcOurse
one will not rely upon points, if he has
an opportunity to milk the animal which
ne thinks Of purchasing, and can see just
What she yields; bat careful inspection
Of her points will often enable him 10 de.
eide whether with the superior feed and
care which he intends to give her, she will
prove mneh better mixer than when