Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-01-29
Meetings Of Board Of Agricultur,
features and Mining.

II. Il. Cleveland of Franklin
an essay upon the subject of 81
ing Grain to Mich Cows"
In this paper, Mr.. g. begst
stating that dairying as prad
in this county is not fairly pr
bic, many diaries not exceedin
lbs. OF butter at price not
| 2S cents II pound. 1t is niece
to exceed these figures consl
bly,, and it cannot be well done
out feeding richer food. With
feed, generally grain, from 2
25O pounds of butter is secure
this county, worth at least 30
a pound. Mr.. Cleveland then y((l((
statistics of the actual eXperieL c,
Of a number Of farmers for the pas
year in proof of his position. His
own experience in the profit Of grain
feeding has been perfectly satSiac-
tory. Some farmers are feeding as
much as 10 to Is tons of shorts to
their herds. The average feed il
about four quarts per day per COW.
Mr.. q. has sold 1900 pounds of but.
ter from eight cows, at an average
cost of $40 per COW for grain feed.
He regards bushel Of coarse mid
dlings as worth more than II bushel
of corn meal for dairy feeding,
Mr.. Riley of Franklin queried
whether this great increase in yield
of our diaries would not decrease
the price Of butter in market.
Mr.. Smith of the board thought
the remedy for this should be to re-
ducc the herd.
Mr.. Gates of Franklin said he
had tried using grain to save his
meadow, not expecting to make any
thing, but found that he could not
help making a profit, besides avoid.
ing the injury to his meadows by
pasturing.
Mr.. Mead of Franklin said grain
increased the quantity Of butter and
its quality, but l.ut tie yield of milk
to any great extent. Had let up
on meal feed This fall, and his cows
cut him down more than he had cut
down the cows. He should not try
it again.
Mr.. HOrskins of Franklin sells
from 100 to 2lO pounds per COW, on
hay and grass OILY. This has av,
eraged 2l5 pounds including what
h. used iii the family.
Mr.. Cleveland sad this was a
small, select dairy, kept Oh the best
pasture in the county. Mr.. Uleve-
land spoke of feeding sour milk to
cows and thought il better to give
this to the pigs and give grain to
COWS.
Mr.. Noble of Berkshire had found
sour milk fed to cows had hurt his
butter.
Mr.. III. Olmstead of Franklin said
common sense was needed in dairy
ing, and that men who keep too
many cows for their feed require
meal, but where there is enough
good feed cows may be brought to
their highest yield without grain
Thinks it better to enlarge the farm
than buy meal. Has never fed meal
or grain to his herd, except to speci
al cows that were old, or otherwise
failing and needed patching up
Mr.. G. Olmstead of Franklin did
not agree with his brother. Not
necessary to patch up cows, if meal
is regularly fed. Did not think that
there would ever be difficulty in sci
ling good butter at ii good price.
The poor price goes usually with
the small yield.
Mr.. Hubbard of the board said
he found a good profit in feeding
grain. 1t is his belief that feeding
corn meal considerably increases
the percentage of butter and cheese
in milk, but not the flow to any
great extent. In purchasing extra
feed he found it more profitable to
buy grain than hay. The three
points Of successful dairying are in
keeping first class cows, in liberal
feeding, and in scrupulous Dicety
in the manufacture of the product.
Mr.. Smith of the beard said that
he had tried all kinds of grain feed,
and had always found that when he
took the corn meal out of the IA
ton of his COWS the yield of butter
suffered.
Col. Mead of the board said he
was hearty advocate of feeding
grain. He had found that it i'm
proved the quantity and quality of
the butter, and kept the stock i'm
proving. This question is one of
experiment, and cannot be decided
by opinion without practical test.
He believes in keeping good stock
and keeping it thriving. The best
of care brings the best of profit.
Mr.. Whitney Of Franklin said he
commenced on the old plan of keep
ing his stock as cheap as he could,
but he found it poor plan. He
commenced feeding meal, and had
in it to his satisfac-
ton. Now gives his meal scalded
and made into slop. Had tried wet
ting the hay and scattering on the
meal, and shrunk his cows one-third
in week. Has never lost cent in
buying meal and feeding it. Itpays
in butter, besides improving the
stock and increasing the manure.
lie does not diminish the hay in con-
sequence of feeding meal. If it
pays to farm it at all, and feed the
cattle anything, it pays to farm well
and feed well.
G. Horace Hubbard member of
the board was introduced. He pre-
faced his remarks by answering the
of several persons. where
can the report of this meeting be
found? "A reporter is engaged at
every meeting to make an abstract
OF the papers and discussions.
These reports are printed on slips
Of paper at the Vermont Farmer Of
fee and forwarded TO every nanar