The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-02-15
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Demand for Dairy Cows,

A scarcity of dairy cows is reported
in all parts of the country. The high
price of milk the present winter is at
tributed to the small number of cows
that are in condition to supply the
market. Very few calves are raised in
any of the districts where dairyinois the
leading business. Dairy farmers think
they can use their land and buildings to
better advantage than in raising calves.
They desire to keep all the milch cows
possible. Many sell their calves as soon
as they are of a size to make veal. while
others kill them when they are only two
or three days old. In some sections the
calves are kept on skinned milk Etiil
they are large enough to stand a jour
ney on cars, when they are sent to some
part of the country where land is plenty
and feed cheap. Dairy farmers, as %
rule. dislike to be troubled with raising
calves or with fattening old cows. 1t
suits their purpose best to dispose of
their young calves and old COWS, and to
buy young COWS when they have occa-
sion to replenish their herds. Recently
they have had difficulty in obtaining
them. Buyers 60 through all parts of
the west picking up cows for eastern
dairymen. Obviously there is money to
be made in raising tirst-class cows to
sell to dairymen. The calves can be
bred on western farms, and kept till
after they have had calves of their own,
when they can be taken in carload lots
to the great dairy centers and sold.
Female calves bred in dairy districts can
also be bought at the stock-yards in
Chicago and St. Louis, and kept on
farms till they are of an age and in a
condition to sell. Female calves can
always be bought at lower prices than
males, as there is more demand for
them for producing beef. As these
calves come from good milking stock,
the chances are that they will make
good mixers.
Observation shows that cows that
have dropped their first calf will bring
as much as bullocks of the same age.
Their calves are worth considerable, as
they can be kept on the farms where
they were dropped till they are old
enough to market. Mich cows can be
raised cheaper than bullocks, as they
are. generally smaller in size. The
former are in the best condition for the
market when they are in ordinary flesh,
while the latter must be well fattened
before they are sent TO market. The
markets for dairy COWS are more acces,
sible than those for fat cattle. Good
mich cows are not only in demand in
the districts where much butter and
cheese are made, but in the neighbor-
hood of cities where the milk is sold to
customers for domestic use. There is
also q steady demand for first-c!a S
COWS TO be kept il towns and cities. -
For the former purpose cows are reQuir-
el that VIII give large amount o
milk, and consequently Holsteins. Ayr
shires, or shortborns Of good milking
stock are preferred. Persons in
towns and cities prefer small cows
and Jersey stock, pure OF high crosses,
that will furnish rich milk. suit the
purpose best. Beef has been SO high
during the past few years that most
stock-growers have given their entire
| attention to the raising of animals that
will furnish q large amount Of choice
meat. The raising of COWS for the dairy
has been neglected in most parts of the
country. In sections where it is difficult
to raise laSge crops of corn and other
kinds Of food necessary for producing
fat there is probably more profit in rails
ing dairy cows than beeyes. In some
places it would be judicious 10 raise the
female calves for the dairy and the males
for the shambles. Many families Of
short-horns produce good mixers and
furnish desirable animals for producing
either milk or beef