Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-07-10
THE DAIRY.
Falling Off in Milk.

The reports of heavy yields of milk,
as frequently published in live stock
periodicals, are of little value, says the
Practical Farmer. In forming a just
estimate of the adaptedness of COW to
dairy purposes o weeks record OF her
duty at the pail is often very mislead-
ing. We need to know more. Her age,
time of dropping her last calf, and full
details as to her keep, must accompany
the record in orderto make it profitable
reading. What is true of published ac-
counts of the yields of prize. and other
noted cattle belonging to others, may
for stronger reason be affirmed of our
own cows. Unless We keep faithful
records of the milk each one of them
gives daily, and of her feed, We are at
loss to know whether we are losing or
making money by her; important items
of information just now. With port
able platform SCALE, a. can, the tare of
which is known, and ruled blanks on
which to make the entries of feed and
yield, the time required to keep the
record is very trifing, and its employ
ment for the purpose is richly repaid.
Indeed, in no other way can we main
tain that Dairy Control" without which
our business is at loose ends. How
much of the present agricultural de-
preston is due to the lack of control of
forming operations? through Ignorance
of whittier we are financially running,
owing to failure to keep regular ac-
counts of our receipts and disburse-
ments, is q primary question OF the
hour.
One of the most valuable pieces of
information to be derived from milk
record, is not only how we'll the COW
milks after calving, but for how many
months she continues to milk we'll, and
how quickly she falls off at the end of
that period. We apprehend that this is
point to which too little attention is
given. Regarding the COW as machine
| for the manufacture of milk, if she
gives very nearly the same quantity dur
ing, say, three- -fourths of her milking
period, and especially if she cohttiiaT5s
milking until within few weeks or
days of her next calving, without injury
to herself or her calf, that is the ma
chine we want.
| Some dairymen estimate the diminu-
tion in milk, as determined by the
weekly average, at about half pound
daily; others assert that the yield first
increases, then falls back to about the
normal average, where it remains, and
then rapidly decreases to the end of
the milking period. The latter condi-
tions are best secured when the calf is
dropped in February or March, and the
| COW turned out as soon as the pasture is
ready for her. Her yield then often
mounts higher than when she was
| fresh.
But even when always fed on the same
ration, cows differ in the rate of diminu-
tion of their milk, the majority proba-
| bly, falling off regularly, and Of the re-
mainder, the number diminishing very
slowly, about equaling the fast shrink
ers. Our milk records, therefore put
our cows under three principal groups,
with some scattering.
In preparing weekly record we leave
| blank space on left margin of sheet
for names of COWS, time of calying, etc.
Next to it we rule columns from top to
bottom. for gallons of milk per week.
! At the top Of the sheet we put the num-
Der of weeks from one to ffty-two, a
broad right hand colume being left for
noting changes in feeding, condition,
etc.
| Mrs. Joseph Paget, of Mansfield, En-
! gland, has recently devised milk chart
| in which the yield is shown in the form
| of diagram, instead of in columns OF
| figures. A gradual decrease is indi-
Gated by anearly straight obliquely de-
scending line; rise in quantity by an
ascending line; sudden alterations in
the yield by line more or less zigzag.
This plan has long been in use fol
showing the rise and fall in the price Of
wheat, in the temperature Of the air, etc.
Any intelligent dairyman can outline Q
chart himself and see how it looks COM
4 nared with figures.