Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-20


pertinent Station. These lectures con-
tanned somuch that il valuable 70 farmers
and embraced 20 many rich suggestions
upon which they can base and work our
good results in their own practice that
the brief abstracts Of each Of them pub.
lished below are commended to their at
tention.
MIN Production.
The most economical animal for milk
producriou Ia the COW Of about the pres
emf size No new plants for feed and
no new animals for giving milk Will be
invented We have found oas What il
best md what il most profitable But
the limit Is at here
Few COWS produce over 5000 pounds
Of milk or over 80 ponpds solid year.
Vet there sre cows that will give lo.oe1
pounds huids and 1900 pounds Of milk
colds in the same time. These are the
better stock Of the coming standards to
which all must aim. The medium road
Is the safest Profits lie In diminished
cost and increased production.
Plain men can produce from plain
cows 5000 pounds Of milk or 1000 pounds
Of solids per year. You people look ike
thoroughbreds Yonr cows do not
they are 'ringed streaked and striped
You have no plan Of breeding, no cattle
character to aim for
How did the good COWS become good
Why do the poor cows remain poor
These are the questions we are TO answer.
M - I.f hau
good cows, as a rule and poor dairymen
have poor cows. The poor dairymen
have some good cows as well Let u
try to find some Of the factors that make
good COW.
OF course the COW has no choice in this
matter. Every COW is as good as she
can be She is the result of her environ
ment and her ancestry. She is the har
vest Of multitude of sowings. All
cows were once poor. A good COW is
the result of mans influence. Pedigree
never produced an extra pound OF milk
You tell me what a nation eats and III
tell you how far il is advanced In civiliz-
alton.
The first thing to make better COW il
improved food The second is improved
environment. By environment | mean
everything in the surroundings-stable
air, light, litter, FORK handle OLaugh
ter.)
kill off about one half Of my cows
every year. | do it to make room for
better raise better calves, by breed
ing in and in. | breed the best to the
best
Food. environment, Improvement and
inbreeding are the secrets of getting
better cows. Halt Of the American ped
igrees run straight into the woods. But
,horoughbreds are good. The short horn
OF Maine should not be like the
short horn of Kentucky, yet alike in
many respects. Every country in Eng
land has its breed We want to start
breeds light here. English bred animals
are not suited TO our climate Every
good dairyman should have breed Of
his own Let him select from the ami
mails in his own herd Start right here
at home. Take those that come the
nearest the idea Of the owner.
The failure to make dairying very
profitable is due to the failure of the
dairymen to bring all factors together
The recent depression 10 farming is going
to be OF great benefit to agriculture
from the fact that more attention will
he devoted to scientific dairying. The
depression will be the best thing thai
ever happened for the farmers, although
it has been hard lesson
The yearly record of the cows should
be kept. Let it be kept accurately. The
quality Of the milk should be tested
Every man should have a milk tester
He should also have scales. A mar
makes big mistake who keeps COW
over three years that brings in a balance
on the wrong side. The scales and tht
milk testers are going to weed out th'
pedigrees. Pedigrees are good but per
formances are better, and the perfec
cow will be the animal that, having {
pedigree, can show better record thar
her dam, as she in time showed bette
record than her grandam.
Keep up the appetite OF the cow ant
get her to eat all she can while stimulat
ing the stomach The food may be fec
in courses or there may be no objection
TO hashes A space should also be giver
for the stomach to rest. The cow sh0ult
come TO the meal with a sharp appetite
and should have it completely satisfied
By feeding twice dav the best result!
are obtained and pasture land should
be used whenever available
Corn meal should be given II
a supplementary food. Don't b,
afraid to feed two year old heifer veri
literally If good results are obtained
it is all right, If not it is well to know a
the earliest possible time that the ANNA
is a failure. Since dairy cows consume
three pounds OF water to one OF fooc
great attention should be paid to the
water supply and since the cows LOSE
their appetite in the winter the construc
ton OF the COW stalls should be care
fully looked after.