The Red Cloud chief., 1884-06-20
Value OF Mich Cows.

NV experience in both buying and SELL
inT cows cOnvinceS me that many farm
ers of New England do n understand
the true value OF a mich COW, or the
relative value v of those they have
raised on their own farms. We call or
n farmer with hall a 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
a slight advance on the price he would
ask for tine poorest of the lot. The
usual changes render it very probable
that the poorest n is worth nothing
for a mich cow. while the best m may
be worth much more than the price ne
sets on her. Many farmers seem to
class cows that are similar in age, size
and condition of flesh, ut about the
same value, without sufficient regard &c
the important point, how much milk OF
butter they yield during the year.
True, they will make the slight differ
ence of from live to ten dollars where
there is quite a 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 a difference in
the daily yield that it would be scarcely
noticeable. In estimating the valu" OF
a cow for dairy purposes, it is well tG
consider frs; whether she is worth any
thing ut all: that is, whether the income
from her will more than pay for hrl
keeping. | am well satisfied that there
are many cows kept for their milk up
to a good old age which are
really worth nothing. Let us 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 at four cents per quart would be
worth Just enough to pay for her keep
ing. Let the pay for the trou
Bile and ARE of her. and such a cow is
practically worth nothing as = mich
cow, and her owner loses the interest OF
the money invested. and carries the
risk of loss through accident or sickness
for nothing. Take another cow. that
gives only one quart q day more than
the first, during three hundred days OF
the 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 az
a 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 a difference of only
one-sixth of a pint of equally rich mills
at each milking, in order TO make a diff
ference of ten dollars in the relative
value of the two cows. | do rot give
these figures as correct. for all section:
of the country. Even in different part:
Vt New England, the cost of keeping I.
COW, as vel Is the price Of milk. varies
a great deal. But the principles which
I have tried to make clear. through the
Use of these figures. j. equally true i,
all parts of the country. Each farmer
can take the price of milk and the cost
CT keeping a cow. as they exist in hi,
own locality. and figure out the prob
lem for himself. Cor. Country Gentts
ou0n-