St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-10
BEEF VS.. DAIRYING.
The Homestead Has Several Poin
That May Be of Value.

That May Be OF Value.
We had the pleasure few days ago
of looking over one of the finest herds
of Shorthorns to be found in the West.
While riding over the heavy blue grass
pastures examining the handsome beefy
matrons and the little short-legged
chunks of beef that ran by their sides,
we asked the proprietor how much
milk his cows gave and if he did not
have some trouble in keeping the bags
fresh when the calves were allowed to
run in the pastures with the cows.
The reply was that the COWS gave more
milk than he wanted and that it was
very annoying, as the boys had to come
out in the pasture every day and
milk the cows out; that he did not want
milk, had no tine to fool with it, and
that he had sold many cows simply be-
cause they were heavy mixers. Look
ing at the question from this gentle
mans standpoint, he was right. He
had so many things to look after that if
he endeavOred to develop the milking
qualities of his cattle, this would beuD-
satisfactory. The dairy business re-
quires the personal attention of the
master and his family. Few men can
successfully run a dairy farm with
hired help. 1t is business that re-
quires careful and incessant attention,
not only in caring for the milk
and cream and butter, but there
must be careful testing of the cows
frequently, wedding out the inferior
ones; the calves must be carefully
looked after and babied and doctored,
and must be fed regularly. The stables
must be warm and light and well ven
tilated. The water must either be in
the stable or close to it so the cows will
be subjected to no exposure or unnec-
essary Inconvenience in the winter.
Feeding dairy cows is profession
in itself. A milk COW is as finicky in her
tastes as a millionaire, and her
appetite must be studied and honored.
Taken altogether there is no business
on the farm that requires more care
and painstaking effort to be made sue
cessful than dairying. The man who
is not willing to give his time and at
tentlon to it, and who does not have
the careful cooperation of his family
had better let it alone. He can make
more mopey-perhaps lose less by
turning his attention to some other de-
psrment of the farm which requires
less care.
There is money in raising cattle for
beef only, if the right kind of cattle are
handled. There is profit in 1t If im-
proved methods are followed. TO
great extent the yeXatiOns incident to
the hiring of help are avoided. 1t is
far easier to get man who under
stands handling beef cattle than one
who understands caring for dairy cat
tie, mainly because beef cattle do not
require the coddling and little tieky-
tacky work that is so distasteful to the
average farm hand. The herd above
referred to shows what can be done
when beef is the sole object. The COWS
run in the pasture through the summer
season and in the winter as long as the
pasture lasts. The calves are usually
dropped there and are looked after for
the first few days to see that they suck
and are all right. When necessary the
surplus milk is removed and the bag
kept in healthy condition. The calves
are allowed to remain with the cows in
the pasture night and day until wean-
ing time, when they are placed IN past
ure of their own and feda little grain to
them growing right along. The second
summer they run Oh pasture and get
their own feed, and during the winter
have open sheds to run under, with hay
and sometimes a small amount of grain,
as it seems necessary, to keep up a
steady, uniform growth. The dry cows
run in open sheds and get nothing but
hay and pasture. The cows sucking
young calves are more carefully housed
and fed some grain during the winter,
the amount depending oil their con-
dition and general health. The idea is
to keep everything in healthy, thrifty
condition.
This method is perfectly natural
one-no forcing and pampering OBJ
tains. The cattle take care of them
selves the most of the time. When a
little extra feed is necessary it Is given,
but usually it is not necessary. The
cattle are of the useful kind, with the
ability to turn grass into flesh highly de-
veloped, and it is needless to say they
are profitable and source of constant
pleasure to lover of beautiful and use
full beasts.
Those who have families large enough
to assist in the milking and ch9rning,
and who are situated near good mar
ket, will find that dairying is profitable
and satisfactory business. Those who
have no families, or who, for some
reason, cannot depend upon their
children for cheerful aid, had better
think twice before going into business
which requires so much study and care
full thought.