The Osceola times., 1885-10-03
TESTING ANIMALS.
Reasons why More Inteliieents Test Can
lie Made ON the Farm.

Reasons why More InteiIigents Test Can
BE Made ON the Farm.
Public tests Of celebrated dairy cows
may be of little value TO the average
farmer, as he does not practice the modes
Of feeding during such tests, nor give
the same care and management to his
stock. But the tests are valuable, as in.
dicating what an animal can be forced
to do if the conditions essential to sue.
cess are complied with. Now. the
farmers business is to discover what
the conditions for the success of his
stock are. He may have the examples
of Others as guides. which will materi-
ally assist him, but there are conditions,
however, peculiar to his own circum-
stances, to which he must conform, and
in which no one can assist him. His
soil, climate, buildings, water, shade,
quality of pasture, method of feeding
and kinds of food used are all important
factors TO be considered. So far as the
denial of the utility of the public tests
is concerned, the fact remains that they
serve as beacon lights in the direction Of
which all must steer. 1t signifies moth.
ing that the product of the COW may ap.
parently exceed the nutritive value OF
the food consumed, for the figures are
stern, and point unerringly to the real
ization of the object sought, and though
the high-pressure public tests may be
Of kind not approved by the farmer,
yet they open up TO him wide field fol-
reflection, and teach him that while he
may not hope TO equal such, yet he
must also test his stock, If he is to sue
ceed, without regard to capacity.
Every animal on the farm should be
tested-whether cattle, sheep, swine or
horses The ordinary cow should have
her merits known to the dairyman, and
he should familiarize himself with her
qualifications, not only as mixer, but
as to the kind and quantity of food best
adapted for her purposes, and the
most profitable. A COW may give only
twenty pounds of milk day, and yet
be an excellent animal II she can produce
that amount at low cost. while another
cow in the same herd may yield thirty
pounds per day. and yet prove unproiit-
able compared with the other. The eve
should give twin lambs, but it is more
important that she give them sufficient
nourishment, as well as yielding for her.
self a fair average of wool. The mare
may be serviceable for an kinds of work,
and yet be unproductive ~ breeder,
while the SOW, though bring forth large
litters Of pigs, may be unsuccessful with
them as nurse. Nor are the males to
be excepted. The quality o. their ge,
is important, while they must also give
a profit for themselves as individuals.
In order to know each animal il must,
therefore, be tested, and not only tested
during certain seasons, but at periods
ranging over the whole year in order to
thoroughly understand the conditions.
Then the feed itself is to be tested, as II
differs in quality at certain times. A
crop of hay one year may be different
substance from that Of another time, and
hence the results obtained during cer-
tain periods will not always enlighten
the farmer as to his proper course at
another time. But such tests will ma
terially assist him to avoid mistakes
previously committed, and teach him
where to economize and when to be lib
eral and generous with ms STOCK,
Public tests demonstrate that there is
no limit to the capacity of an animal as
long as the conditions are not complied
with. She may be able to do more with
out having been given an opportunity OF
so doing, and thus it is on the farm.
The farmer should not condemn his ami
mails until he has faithfully endeavored
togive them the full privilege of demon
strating their capacity, and when he has
performed his part he will then know
that his profits will be according to the
quality of the stock, rs he can retain
any such as have proved themselves
worthy of his confidence, while the in.
ferior class will be discarded the result
being that the stock will be gradually
improved and the profits increased
Philadelphia Record.