St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-30
THE DAIRY COW.

= jamestown StOckman, in an Adj
dress Before the Walsh Farm
ers' Institute. In Dakota.
p My theme for discussion to-day. be-
fore this body Of farmers, is one of
greatest interest to all. take the
ground that without the dairy cow the
future of our grand territory must be q
comparative failure, for it is, to say the
least, doubtful il we can ever raise beef
in competition with Montana. They
can place a three-year-0ld steer in st.
Paul and make handsome profit at
e25. We can scarcely raise him
for that. but we have better GRASSES
for grazing. and we can beat the
world raising roots. oats, barley and
bran-the feed for the dairy cow. and
from the very nature OF things 0airying
see many day before it can raise its
own butter and cheese. We are ship
ping tons Of butter to the owners Of
thousands of cattle that cannot from
their surroundings and habits ever
make dairying pay. The raising of
wheat is not always the success we
would wish. but the COW is all every day
affair, just about as certain as death
and taxes. With these iders before US,
is it not time to look at the great helper
of the farmer, and, iii so many cases.
the party that enables the farmer to
make both ends meet?
HER FEED.
By her feed We shall know her, is only
slight paraphraSe of truism, and OF
equal truth. My father taught me thirty
years ago, when feeding ShOrth0rns,
that feeding was just as essential to sue
4 d. r To n
boy, and had, only to be sent back
tend properly to old Brindle or Crumple
before thoroughly learned that prin-
ciple, and have never forgotten it.
Cows, like other manner of folks, don't
want to be fed alike. tried the expe-
rience last winter ON the HOlStein,
Shorthorn and Jersey standing side by
side. l have fed thirty imported cows
the past two years on bran and wheat
straw, for the purpose of getting the best
breeding results, and when tell you
have sixty-one calves as the result. all
well, all perfect, and in fast nearly all
sold at an average of over $126 each,
you may agree that the feed has done
pretty well. This winter am feeding
a smaller number for milk, and l have
cows that are giving from thirty to forty
pounds day, and have been giving
milk since last April. and carrying
calves since June and July. Hardly an
item of the same feed is used. emily
speak of this to show the difference Of
feeding, and there is still another feed
entirely different from either of these
that is probably the finest example of
feeding for beef ever known, mean
that given by Uncle Willie Watson. the
famous Doddie feeder. OF course, as
you generally know, the difference is
almost entirely in the changing of flesh
and milk-forming f0ed, for the fat
forming foods.
But digress. The dairy cow wants
first not only good feed but plenty of it,
but wants the food that will make the
most milk and butter. Nor does she
want the same kind Of feeding the en-
tire year; she ought TO have her food
changed occasionally, thereby increas-
( ing her relish and thus her capacity for
taking food. For look upon COW as
a machine, through which must get as
much food as possible, only looking to
her health and breeding as limit. ALI
COWS will not assimilate food alike, but
take this proposition: That in three
years from now no farmer ought to have
about him cow that on generous feed
will not, in her full milk form, give her
owner at least 10. 600 pounds per annum;
and calf each year, if heifer, will be
worth more than the present COW is. l
say in three years, because it will take
same time to discard the scrub and get
high grade of some good milk breed. l
think vital mistake is made in keeping
a cow that only gives milk six or eight
months, or less, per year; you simply
have, in all human probability, a beef
animal, and should know better than to
put her in the dairy.
THE FORM OF THE COW. S-s
A model COW travels more on her
shape than some people seem to think.
The reverse Of the beef type so we'll
known is, generally speaking. pretty
fair to judge a milk type by. But our
sity large barrel, slanting ribs, open
twist, large, fine, hairless udder, and
large tortuous milk veins extending as
far forward as possible, with large
apertureS, and fine nervous system,
shown in bright projecting mild eyes;
these / hold to be important func-
tons. Then in connection long, slim
neck with fine head. wide and
dished between the eyes, the long
face and large muZzle and mouth, level
open back, smooth and good handling,
yellow hide (black and white hair) and
rich secreting, small leg and hoof, taper
ing tail, and you have my model for
cow. Such COW should give when two
years old from 4,000 to 5000 pounds OF
milk, and double that at five years old.
If she does not, lay it to her breed and
care, not to her shape. Don't be dis
Outraged if a cow with her first calf is
not a perfect success; often some unac-
-cOuntable reason is there which disap-
pears later on. Though if lacking the
above essentials beef her, or use her for
beef purposes. Do not throw away time
in trying to get milk from her.
THE BREED.
The breed! Possibly am travelling
on ground it might be better not men-
ton tor fear of some one saying am
advertising. yet think I can give JUS
tice to all breeds. For certainly
found my model cow in my fathers
farm yard thirty years ago, and she was
Shorthorn. But that form is certainly
not typical of the breed. jersey gives
it nearly to perfection, only it is to the
type as is the Exmoor pony to the
French coach horse, well enough in her
place-warln ATTITUDES, snort feed and
ward. But for the farmer for
practical use certainly any who
have tried the breed will agree
the cow that has for centuries been the
prize dairy COW of the world is the best
cow to choose. That cow, the HolStefn,
is way ahead for the purpose. In her
capacity to lay on flesh when dry, the
handsome veal the half-bred male calves
make when not wanted for oxen, Of
which they make the best; her perform
! ance at the pail, where she stands pre-
eminent. giving her weight, and some
times double that amount of milk, with a
butter record of three to four and a half
spounds per day; the fact that she is
,1.aoeo ~, az III xyJovlds