The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-11
OUR FARM AND HOME TALK.
HOW ToINcREASE MILK PRODUCTION.
Indian Corn-Among the Poultry-Horses'
Feet and Hot shoeing-Brief Farm Hints
Sweet Potato Pie-SeveraI New Re-
ceipts For TriaI-Etc.

That the farmer can, by judicious
breeding, not only increase the capacity of
his cows hut also the quality of the milk,
is fact that admits of no denial, so says
the agricultural editor of the Philadelphia
Record The two obstacles now in the
way of successful dairying are abortion OF
the COWS and the failure of the dairyman
to raise better stock than he can buy. The
destruction Of the calves, which is really
wrong, at the age of two or three days, is
gradually undermining the dairy industry
by compelling the farmer to purchase his
dairy COWS, which is simply matter OF
chance, so far as the productive capacity
OF the cows are concerned and subjecting
him to greater expense Of labor, shelter
and cost of production, serious drawbacks
that are sure to bring evil results finally.
Where pasturage is good the calf will
not entail much expense after it is six
months old. The cost of the calf to that
age will, OF course, depend largely on the
amount of milk allowed it, an estimate of
the cost of which will not exceed $40 when
milk is supplied at 2 cents per quart The
calf will come in at about two years ofage,
and be then a producer. The total cost of
the calf to the age of two years will vary,
but if this cost be compared with the cost
of fresh COWS (deducting the loss from
the sales of such COWS when they are
dry it is doubtful If the cost of
the calf will exceed the cost and value
of the fresh COW. But farmers will
not admit that it is cheaper to raise
their COWS, as they look more to the imme-
date profits than to the future. II the calf
is to be retained, however, it should be
grade something better than its dam. I'm
less the dairyman intends to give up his
stock he will conduct calf raising on the
chance system as much as when buying
cows. The object should be to improve
the stock for the purpose of increasing the
capacity OF the herd. In a large majority
OF cases abortion in the herd (which is
contagious) is due to the purchase of fresh
cows, which, unknown to the dairyman,
come from herds in which the difficulty
exists, and introduce it among others.
When the dairyman decides to. improve
the capacity of his herd he will need no
urging to destroy the scrub bull, which is
as great a curse to dairying az can exist.
1t is good average if a cow produces
1000 quarts of milk in year, and at the
wholesale price of , cents (about what the
farmer gets the gross product is only $40,
andout of this must come all the expenses,
capital invested and interests, the manure
only being extra. If the capacity of each
COW can be doubled, which is possible by
raising the calves, there will be but little
additional expense for shelter and labor,
and the proportionate profit will be greatly
increased. To raise calves, however, with
out breeding for the kind desired, and
without proper selection, would not be
systematic, for it is fact often demon
strated that herd of well-bred dairy COWS
will give a profit where loss only is en-
tailed from buying fresh COWS to replace
those that dry off.