The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-16
Where the Profit Is Found.

E. w. Stewart, in his article on testing
butter cows, makes a point which it is of
the utmost importance for farmers to
consider. 1t is simply to increase the
food to the full capacity of the cows
digestion, the profit greater as the maxi
mum point is approached. He says
s.two-thirds of full common ration is
used as the food of support, and only
one-third becomes food sof production.
In the increased ration only a small
fraction is used as increased food of
support, and it therefore nearly all be-
comes food of production" 1t needs
comparatively little more feed than is
usually given to secure this result, just
as the increase of plant food in farm
crops of grass and grain affords the most
benefit. 1t is the excess over the neces-
sary expense of raising a crop where
profit is realized: a little more ma
nure, q little more care in cultivating
the soil accomplishes this. In this as in
the production of milk only avoid waste
only see that the proper plant food
and COW feed be given, which an intelli-
gent experience will secure; not abso-
1utely, but enough is known to realize a
large increase of profit.
That we have been underfeeding our
stock, and in too many cases to large
extent, is clear but that an increased
percentage of proft-if profit at all
should result from higher feeding has
been less clear and doubtful to many.
There are those who hold different opin-
ions; their stock is found in good con-
dition, and tests to some extent have
demonstrated the benefit of high feeding,
particularly judicious high, feeding. L
remember distinctly case (reported at
the time); where a COW, six or seven
years old, made seven pounds of butter
per week when taken from the herd,
and with care and good feed gained in
milk production, till at the end of two
years she reached fifteen pounds of but
ter per week, and maintained the in
crease till up to her fifteenth year, when
she went into other hands where, with
less care and feed, she fell off rapidly.
Another COW was also purchased at
the time, giving less milk, but the in
crease was proportionally the same, the
two being the only cows kept Both
were treated very kindly; sheltered from
cold rains and kept in good winter
quarters. with running sp9ng water in
the barn yard. and fed good, nutritious
food the year round abundant grass in
summer, and meal in the form of slop
IL bAAC opA4nSs WIN e-OO1 AAo1s SAOfCA oAA0
timothy, and some corn meal, varied
some years with oats and barley grown
and ground together. The increase of
the food was not large; the quality was
improved, and this is point that cannot
be overlooked without loss; neither can
good care of the animal. which is hardly.
If at all, second to the other. Careful
experiments should be made on this
point
With our present advanced knowledge
and the means of improvement, we have
it in our own power to secure the proper
food. and cheaply, to keepup an abund-
ant flow of good milk during the milk
ing period, and the period will be pro-
longed. Among these means are cutting
our meadows earlier and oftener, bring
ing to aid ensilage in winter, and, be-
sides grass, soiling or part soiling, and
sheltering the cows from the midday
heat of the sun in summer. If this is
done and proper care given the cows,
less meal in proportion need be fed, but
it should not be allowed to fall short Of
what is needed to make a full ration.
This is to be reached gradually-not by
gorging the animal with strong, tempt
ing food at once. The appetite must be
kept good, rs upon that and digestion
success is depending.-F. g., IN CotI1-
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