Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-06-19
Value Of Mneh Cows:


Nv experience in both buying and sell
ing cows convinces me that manv Tarm-
srs of New England do not understand
ne true value OF \ milch COW. or the
relative value even OF those they have
raised on their own farms. We call on
farmer with half n dozen cows Of
common or native stock. II he wishes
u sell 6fie: tinlEss he has ! speeisi
fancy or liking for some particular
cow. he viii givethe BUYER his choice at
4 slight advance on the price ne would
ask for the poorest Of The lot The
usual changes render it very probable
that the poorest one IS worth nothing
for q milch COW. while the best one NAV
be worth much moro 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 yalue. without sufficient regard to
the important point how much milk or
butter they Weld during the year.
True, they win 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 Swo cows
would require 50 slight \ difference in
the daily yield that il would be scarcely
noticeable In estimating the valus Of
a COW for dairy purposes. il 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 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 II fig
urcs viii not throw some light on the
subject. To keep n COW during the year
viii cost rot less than forty dol ars
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 manure pay for the trou-
bic and care of her. and such a COW is
practically worth nothing as a milch
COW, and her owner loses the interest on
the money invested. sad carries the
risk of loss through accident or sickness
for nothing. Take another COW, that
gives only one quart a day more than
the first. during three hundred DAYS of
the year. This VIII give an increase Of
twelve dollars per year. or sixty dol
lars during thetive years tha. she would
probably be MIXED. This would BE-
sufficient to pay interest on the extra
cost of the COW. and make her value rs
a mixer Al least thirty dollars more
than that of the first. And each extra
quart per day Of equslly as rich milk
adds an extra thirty dollars to her valge.
This estimate shows that il is necessary
that there shOald be n difference of only
ones .th of \ pint of equally rich milk
at each milk ng. in order TO make = diff
fereI e OF ten dollars in the relative
value of the two cows ! do EOt give
these figures rs correct for all sections
nj the country. Even In different parts
Of New England. the cost Of keeping \
COW. as vel as the price Of milk. varies
= great deal But the principles which
| have tried 10 make clear. through the
use of these figures. j. equally true in
all parts Of the country. Each farmer
can take the price Of milk and the cost
Of keep ng a COW. as they exist in his
own locality. and figure out the Prob |
lem for himself Cor. Country GCHtfe-
man