Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-06-20
Value OF Mich Cows.

NY experience in both buying and SELL
ing cows convinces me that MANY farm
srs of New England do not understand
The true value OF q milch cow, or the
relative value even of those they have
-aised on their own farms. We call on
farmer with half dozen cows Of
common or native stock. II he wishes
TO sell one, unless he has a special
fancy or liking for some particular
cow, he will give the buyer his choice at
4 slight advance on the price he would
ask for the poorest of the lot. The
psual changes render it very probable
that the poorest one is worth nothing
for a milch COW, while the best one may
be worth much more than the price he
sets on her. Many farmers Seem to
class cows that are similar in age, size
and condition of flesh, at about the
same value, without sufficient regard to.
the important point, how much milk or
butter they yield during the year.
True, they will make the slight differ
ence of from five to ten dollars where
there is quite large difference in the
amount and quality of milk; while the
fact is that the ten dollars difference in
the correct values of the two cows
would require so slight difference in
the daily yield that it would be scarcely
noticeable. In estimating the value of
cow for dairy purposes, it is well TO
consider first whether she is worth any
thing at all; that is, whether the income
from her will more than pay for her
keeping. ! am we'll satisfied that there
are many cows kept for their milk up
to a good old age which are
really worth nothing. Letus see if fig
urcs will not throw some light on the
subject. To keep a COW during the year
will cost not less than forty dollars
for hay, grain and pasturage. Suppose
she gives seven quarts a day in early
summer, and then gives less and less
until dry in the spring, making about
one thousand quarts during the year.
This ut four cents per quart would be
worth just enough to pay for her keep
ing. Let the manure pay for the trou-
BILE and care OF her, and such a cow is
practically worth nothing As a mich
COW, and her owner loses the interest on
the money invested. and carries the
risk of loss through accident or sickness
for nothing. Take another cow, that
gives only one quart n day more than
the first, during three hundred days of
the year. This will give an increase of
twelve dollars per year, or sixty dol
lars during the five years that she would
probably be MIXED. This would be
sufficient to pay interest on the extra
cost of the COW, and make her value as
mixer at least thirty dollars more
than that of the first. And each extra
quart per day of equally as rich milk
adds an extra thirty dollars to her value.
This estimate shows that it is necessary
that there should be difference of only
one-sxth of pint of equally rich milk
at each milk ng, in order to make diff
ference of ten dollars in the relative
value of the two cows. | do not give
these figures as correct for all sections
nf the country. Even in different parts
of New England, the cost of keeping q
COW, as vel as the price of milk, varies
a great deal. But the principles which
| have tried to make clear. through the
use of these figures, is equally true in
all parts of the country. Each farmer
can take the price of milk and the cost
Of keeping a cow, rs they exist in his
own locality, and figure out the prob
lem for himself. Cor. Country Gerstte-
| man