The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-10-07
Why Dairying is Profitable.
fDlrrol.1whsa Da.Ar.1

The dairy farmer, as rule, is prosperous
and has fewer drawbacks and better results
than the farmer who makes a speciality of
grain crops, Oreyen general stock raising.
The reason is that dairying enables to sell his
crops in the shape of a manufactured pro-
duct, thereby securing better prices than
when the crops are marketed in bulk. The
majority OF farmers. however, have not
realized the fact that theysdo not derive
more than one-half the milk from their cows
that they should receive. There is dispo-
sition to be satisfied with whatever quantity
a COW may give whether it be great or small.
While we have in this country breeds of cat
lie that are superior for milk production,
and individual animals from such giving
over forty quarts of milk daily, yet the aver
age daily quantity derived at the diaries is
less than ten quarts. And yet with this
small quantity from each COW, dairying
proves profitable and VIII continue to do So
bat there is no reason why the profits should
not be greater.
Dairying does not pay simply because the
cows give milk but because there are several
matters connected with dairying, which,
taken as a whole, renders the business one
that adds permanently to the wealth of the
farmer and increases his capital in a manner
not always observed. The COWS increase the
fertility of the soil. which produces larger
crops and adds to the number of animals
. that can be sustained. In other words, dali
Fving is a system that tends to improvement
and prevents impOverishment of the soil. 1t
must be admitted, however, that in the
course of time the elements of fertility will
pass away in the milk and young stock hold
Off the farm, but fortunately, the majority
of farmers are compelled TO purchase bran,
shipstuif and other materials that supply
the place of food that is not produced a
home, which cOmpensates for the loss of
that which is sent to market. The reason
why dairying is profitable is because the
farmer not only keeps up the fertility of his
soil by the use of his stock, but by the better
prices obtained for his products as compared
with general farming which gives him a
surplus and enables him to expend pro-
portion annually for food to be brought on
the farm.
If dairyins, however is profitable with the
low average of ten quarts of milk daily from
each COW land the estimate is high, il can
not be denied that the profits could be in
creased If better animals were used. As long,
however, as farmers persist in tOlerating the
presence of the scrub bulls it is plain that
they must continue 10 depend upon pur-
chasing fresh cows whenever the mixers be-
come dry. The practice of purchasing fresh
COWS will always retard dairying, as no reli-
ance can be placed upon the value of such
cows until they have been tested which may
show many of them to be worthless. Every
farmer can not breed cows to yield forty
quarts of milk a day. but every farmer
can, by the use of thoroughbred bulls of
the HOlstein or Ayrshire breeds so grade up
his herd as to double the average yield and
largely increase the profits. good COW re-
quires no more room than an inferior one
nor is the labor and care necessary in the
management greater. The expenses will be
but very lit.:ie more, while the profits will
be much greater in proportion to capital in
vested. With the desire to improve comes
the inclination Of adopting better systems OF
management, which includes fewer fences,
smaller areas for pasture, and larger fields
for cultivation, as well as the careful saving
of the manure, and the selection of the
choicest and best animals every season. Ii
may be suggested, also, that even the man
agement of The product milk will be so
conducted as TO improve the quality OF the
butter, thereby adding TO the profit by ia
creased prices as we'll as from the larger
quantity resulting from improvement of the
stock