The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-11-30
In the Keeping Of Cows.

The coming winter is to be one OF
high-priced food 1t is probable that
hay, grain, roots, ETC., will bring
price that will cause the thoughtful
farmer to consider well whether he is
cettinp such q return from his fodder
sold to his cattle as he would If sold in
the markets. So long as there is a re-
lation between food and product, and
difference between the prices Of various
articles does the problem become an
important one to solve, whether the
present practice is one that brings the
greatest return. There are several
propositions which may serve as foun-
datfon for argument and practice ac-
cording to the spirit in which the farm
er meets them The first is that ..breed
may be superior to feed" or stated less
broadly, individual animals may be able
to digest and convert into product
food that certain other animals may be
unable to assimilate in sufficient amount
to cover more than the labor of living.
1t seems to me unquestionable that
close observation of number OF ami
mails under like treatment viii develop
the fact that marked individual pecu-
liarities exist, and no. the least of these
is the power of relishing and convert
ing the food supply. One COW is dainty;
another COW is omnivorous. One COW
will take readily to new foods; another
cow can be but slowly turned from the
accustomed ration One cow always
displays good appetite; another COW
noses over her food seeking ever the
best portion first One COW viii endure
forcing for milk without damage, while
another COW under like treatment may
.sc~l.t
on, the closer the observation the more
peculiarities becoming obseryant-
We also note another fact. One cow
will give far more milk than will an
other ccw This is independent of the
food supply as given.
Increase of food does not produce a
corresponding increase of milkfor every
cow alike. While feeding for milk, any
increase of food beyond the amount
requisite to produce in the animal to
which it is fed her natural maximum
yield is usually fed at loss. ssH two
herds should be found, the one COM
aprising selected mixers, the other COM
prising known poor mixers. it would
be found that increase OF food quality
and amount would be productive oi
different results as between the two
n6Lucr anu Inc PlOlAAo aAloAAlz HQdAa DS
far different as WELL This TACT is rec.
ognized in part by common speech. as
when we speak of milky COW,
or one in whom the food seems to bt
utilized for milk producing; or q beef
more in storing flesh than in increas
ing the milk yield. ssa9 So se
When farm products are low this in,
sofr or hord variation hka.
tween COWS assumes less importance
than when milk is high. Ii for the pur-
pose of illustration we suppose hay tc
be worth ten dollars ton and twenty
dollars ton, and q COW to require three
tons or its equivalent per year, and
milk three cents q quart, we find that
In order to have the milk product equa
in value the food supply, the cow mus
give ], 200 quarts in the one case .anC
:, 200 in the other. It would, therefore
be a safe rule to apply TO herd, te
weed out each year such animals as viii
not produce sufficient milk at its mar
ket price to pay for the food fed at il
market price. Why should farmerl
sell their hay and grain product cheape
to themselves than to othersp 1s yi.fl !
Yet we may see many farmers keep
ing COWS that do not pay q profit. Their
IS an idea currcnt that the manure mad,
on the farm has q special value abov'
ITS plant food value which will antago
nize such figures as common sense show
to exist as 3 relation between the foot
fed and the milk or beef product Thi
exaggerated idea of manure has beel
productiFe Of much fatnity. The vaiu
of manure is an element which must al
WAYS be taken into consideration, it
true. but it has q farm value in genera
not superior to its market value, or Ger
fainiy q value In its relations to its cost
There can be no more profitable EN-
ployment for the farmer than to con
s;der this question of relations whic
we have outlined Given the true valu
of the manure-a value which is de
pendent on the character of the foo
supply-the sale value of the forag
crops, and the sale value of the milk
and it is in the power of the farmer 3
figure closely as to how much return
cow must give in order to cover tn
cost of her keeping. If an animal
found to fall below the standard c
weld, away with her to Che butcher, o
to the number of those who are Willing
to buy, and who do not calculate closel
on values This wedding of animals
under the name of selection has bee
productive of such improvement as W
see manifested in modern progress. an
has also been the main point in the Is
tablishment of herds. From q pla
which has been so profitable in the pas
much may be expected from its exter
sion into present and future practice
DR.. e. LeiDis StrrteUanf, IN ne Spring
field Mass Republican.
- What fine, protuberant forehea
vour baby has. Mrs. Jonesi Did he 90