The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-03-21
THE DAIRY HERB.
a Discussion of the Various Ways In
Which Mich CnMa Are Procured.


which NlIlch Cows Are Procured.
One common way of supplying a
dairy with cows is by purchase. Fresh
cows. or springers. are bought as
needed. and as soon as circumstances
permit the animal is put upon full feed.
which results in either large flow Of
milk or in laying on flesh, depending
upon the natural tendencies OF the ami
NAL; though the best mixers long
time after calving will assume the
neshy form. and cease to give paying
quantity of milk. when they are sold
for beef and their stalls filled by the
new purchase. This way Of procuring
cows has Its advantages; all the milk
is used for the dairy, none being needed
for rearing calves. Even in diaries
where the skim milk is retained upon
the farm. the new milk which is neces-
sary for starting calf well in life is a
matter OF considerable expense.
/ estimate that it costs me from Is to
% cents per day for the new milk
needed to feed calf for the first 80
days of its existence. at the end of
which time the gain in weight would
be worth by the pound more than one
half what it has cost. This five or six
dollars deducted from the annual
income OF each COW, besides the cost of
attention and shelter for the calf, is a
strong advantage for the system OF
purchasing cows for the dairy. This
plan also encourages division Of labor
among farmers. one class being en-
gagged in production of cows to be used
in the diaries. 1t also furnishes mar
ket for the heifers raised on the stock
farms. Another advantage is that the
COW may be purchased in the spring or
fall and, with summer or winter dairy
ing carried on, the herd be dispersed
when the season ends. There are I'M
doubtedly many situations where the
plan by purchase is by far the best for
supplying the dairy with cows. But ii
his one very serious disadvantage-that
ofquality. The best cows are rarely for
sale at prices which permit Of dis
regard of their value as breeders. A
COW which yields 1000 or 5000 pounds
of milk, or makes 100 or 200 pounds OF
butter per year more than the average
COW, is worth a value for her ability to
reproduce this same merit in her
calves. This suggests another way OF
getting dairy cows: that of breeding
them. The beginning of the breeding
of dairy herd involves a purchase of
foundation stock. In them the breeder
will find greater scope for selecting
than at any other time in the history
of his breeding, for he has the herds
Of all other breeders to select from,
and is only limited by his financial
ability to purchase, though limited
means is not now SO great ar
obstacle in the way Of procuring
high types Of breed as might be sup
posed. Price is seldom a criterion Of
real merit, being quite frequently regu
lated by the condition and reputation
of the animal. The merits Of the many
breeds Of cattle claiming superiority il
the dairy is fully proclaimed by their
breeders, and judging from the enthusi
asm. arguments and illustrations with
which they champion their favorites
one would be led to believe that each
was far better than any of the others
There is. however. difference. other
wise there would be no breeds. The
distinctive feature which makes
breed valuable is superior merit il
some one direction. The breed of cat
tie to select for any purpose is thai
which has been bred, fed and selected
for many generations for the one pur
pose needed. Advantage is thus takel
of the skill and labor OF those VIII,
have built up the breed. Ralph Allen
n Orange Judd Farmer.