The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-26
In the Keeping Of Cows.

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
getting such return from his fodder
sold to his cattle as he would if sold in
the markets. So long as there is re-
2 lion between food and product, and
difference between the prices of various
articles does the problem become all
important one to solve, whether the
present practice is one that brings the
greatest return. There are several
propositions which may serve as foun.
dation 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 Q
close observation of a number of ami.
mails under like treatment will develop
the fact that marked individual pecu.
iarities 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 will endure
forcing for milk without damage, while
another cow under like treatment may
become ailing. And so we might &c
on, the closer the observation the more
peculiarities becoming observant.
We also note another fact One COW
will give far more milk than will an
other COW. 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. If two
herds should be found, the one COM
prising selected mixers, the other COM
prising known poor mixers, it would
be found that increase of food quality
and amount would be productive OF
different results as between the two
herds, and The profits arising would be
far different as well. This fact is rec
ognized in part by common speech, as
when we speak of a milky cow,
or one in whom the food seems to be
utilized for milk producing; or beefy
COW, whose food seems to be utilized
more in storing flesh than in increas-
ing the milk yield.
When farm products are low this in
dividual variation or herd variation be-
tween COWS assumes less Importance
than when milk is high. If for the pur-
pose of illustration we suppose hay to
be worth ten dollars ton and twenty
dollars ton, and COW to require three
tons or its equivalent per year, and
milk three cents quart, we find that
in order to have the milk product equal
in value the food supply, the COW must
RltC IsOOO Huttl 10 III UlC OllC CdoO anu
1000 in the other. 1t would, therefore,
be safe rule to apply to herd, to
weed out each year such animals as will
not produce sufficient milk at its mar
ket price to pay for the food fed at its
market price. Why should farmers
sell their hay and grain product cheaper
to themselves than to othersp
Yet we may see many farmers keep
ing cows that do not pay profit. There
is an idea current that the manure made
ON the farm has special value above
its plant food value which will antago-
nize such figures as common sense shows
to exist as a relation between the food
fed and the milk or beef product. This
exaggerated idea of manure has been
productive of much faulty. The value
of manure is an element which must al
ways be taken into consideration, it is
true, but it hasa farm value in general
not superior to its market value, or GER
tainly value in its relations to its cost.
There can be no more profitable en-
ployment for the farmer than to con-
slider this question of relations which
we have outlined. Given the true value
of the manure-a value which is de-
pendent on the character of the food
supply-the sale value of the forage
crops, and the sale value of the milk,
and it is in the power of the farmer to
figure closely as to how much return a
COW must give in order to cover the
cost of her keeping. If an animal is
found to, fall below the standard of
yield, away with her to the butcher, or
to the number of those who are willing
to buy, and who dc not calculate closely
on values. This wedding of animals
under the name of selection-has been
productive of such improvement as we
see manifested in modern progress, and
has also been the main point in the es-
Enlistment of herds. From q plan
which has been so profitable in the past
much may be expected from its extern
sion into present and future practice
DR.. b. Lea0iS SturteUant, IN Tic Spring
feld Mass Republican.