The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

COWS returned average earnings OF
S26.1S; and that $50 per cent of all
the cows returned average earnings of
S3l.22; and that the average annual
earnings of the remaining II 8 per cent
of the cows was S52 3d.
The above certainly are astonishing
results, and their consideration demands
that our dairymen should carefully re-
view the present situation and devise,
If possible, some means of escape from
condition which appears to be ruin
Gus. | believe such means of escape
exist and have been found by some of
our most intelligent dairymen. In fact
these valuable statistics of Mr.. Jen-
nings help to point out the way, as we
shall soon see; but first we need care
fully to determine the causes which ex-
list to produce condition which. when
fully comprehended, appears deplorable
FirSt-Are the prices received for the
several products of the dairy remunera-
tive. Certainly not at present, but
there are two methods for lettering
this unfavorable condition, namely:
Improve the products of the dairy in
quality, and everybody will admit that
in this respect there is great need
and great opportunity, since at present
not overa third of the butter and cheese
is really frst-class or brings frst-class
! prices and then reform the present
almost universal custom of having these
dairy products made and marketed at
that season of the year when prices are
at their minimum, while the dairy re-
mains idle and unproductive during
the season when, as a rule prices are at
! i,n, ,,l 4
production not much greater. There
is no economy in carrying our dairy
animals through the long winter months
on simply maintenance rations, often
bringing them TO grass "spring poor, -
as the phrase is.
Second-Are the products obtained
such in quantity as give assurance of
| profit? Certainly not, we are forced
again to reply, for while the average
product of our dairy cows is, for ex-
ample, of butter not over 1875 or 1870
| pounds per annum, there are many
herds of well-selected grades which
average 800 pounds and upwards of
butter per COW annually. In fact the
statistics presented by Mr.. Jennings
show even greater inequalities, since
he gives the average value of the
butter product, in one dairy producing
only butter, as S67 10 per COW, another
dairy as S42.2l, while still another is
SLIPS and another Sl6.G7. Inequalities
almost equally great are found in
those diaries producing only cheese,
or cheese and butter-as, for eX-
ample, one dairy reports an average
value in cheese per COW of $50. Sc,
another of cheese and butter of Sal 20,
while another reports $3.50, and still
another Sl3.60 as the average values of
butter and cheese per COW.
Now it is doubtless true that quality
and consequent prices of the products
of the above-quoted diaries effected the
above results, but it is beyond question
true that these great differences were
largely due to differences in the aver
age amount of products obtained from
the several herds.
How, then, may we hope to increase
the products of our diaries without
increasing the number of animals? In
reply to this we find some light in the
statistics presented by Mr.. Jennings.
1t will probably be found that much
depends upon the character of grades
l. e., breed, which shall be chosen for
the purposes of butter or cheese pro-
duction-but of that at present we
shall not speak. Whatever the breed,
all are agreed that careful selection of
individuals should be made, adapted to
the specific purpose for which they are
intended, and the results of such Sc
lection, whether of full-bloods, grades
or so-called natives, have always
proved as surprising as they have been
gratifying and profitable to the one
making the experiment.
But while it has been often insisted
that the dairy cow is in a sense a ma
chine for the specific purpose of milk
production, and that up to certain linn
its which, unfortunately, are very
rarely attained by our dairymen, the
amount and consequent value of her
production is largely dependent upon
the excess of suitable food furnished
over and above that needed for her
sustenance.
This fact is clearly shown in the sta
tistics, and for that purpose l have
separated into groups those herds the
average earnings of which are below
$50, between $50 and $50, $50 and $40,
$40 and $50, $50 and $50, and above
$50. have also estimated the value
of the grain and bran furnished to each
! nou, in, tho cauaral urnnnS.