Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-11-04
TESTING ANIMALS.
Reasons why More Intelligeuts Test Can
he Made on the Farm.

Reasons Why More Intelligents Test Can
he 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 n,aieri-
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 rs The
denial of the utility Of the public tests
is concerned, the fact remains that they
serve as beacon lights in the directio of
which all must steer. 1t signifies moth
ing that the product Of the cow may ap-
parently xceed 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-pressnre public tests may be
of kind MOI approved by the farmer,
yet they open mp to him wide field for
reflection, and teach i'm that while he
may not hope to equal such, yet he
must also test his stock, if he is to sue
coed, 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 if she can produce
that amount at low cost, while another
cow in the same herd may yield thirty
pounds per day. and yet prove unproit-
able compared with the other. The eve
important that she give them sufficient
nourishment, as well as yielding for her
self fair average of wool. The mare
may be serviceable for all kinds of work,
and yet be unproductive as breeder,
while the SOW, though bring forth large
filters Of pigs, may be unsuccessful with
them as nurse. Nor are the males to
be excepted. The quality of their get
is important, while they must also give
profit for themselves as individuals.
In order to know each animal it 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 it
differs in quality ct certain times. A
crop of hay one year may be different
substance from that of another time, and
hence the results obtained during GER
tain periods will not always enlighten
the farmer as to his proper course at
another time. But such tests will IA
terially assist him to avoid mistakes
previously committed, and teach him
where to economic and when to be lib
real and generous with his 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
to give 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, as 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.