St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-13
THE DAIRY IN WISCONSIN.
Extract From the Proceedings OF
a Farmers Institute.

Extract From the Proceedings of
a Farmers Institute.
A. X. Hyatt, of Sheboygan Falls, read
paper Oh ''Why Wisconsin Farmers
Should Be Dairymen." As one of the
reasons he said that the value of farm
lands in Sheboygan county had doubled
III the last ten years, or since the farm
ers there begun making dairying bnsi-
ness. Farm buildings had also been
greatly improved, and the land highly
productive. 1t was, however, essential
that the dairymen should keep good
COWS. Not all so-called dairymen did
that. There were, he said, great
many scrub darymen in the best dairy
regions. They kept only scrub cows,
and did not make near the profit they
might. They were not i'm reality dairy
men. Only these who so kept cows as
10 reap good profit from them, and at
The same time increase the productive
capacity of their farms. were worthy
the name of dairymen. 1 he keeping up
and improving or the fertility of the
farm was one of the prime purposes for
which the farmer should strive. Intel
igently pursuing the dairy business
would do this. The more cows a man
kept on farm and the longer he kept
them, the less would his farm be af-
fected by severe drouthS, such as that
which parched the farms Uf Wisconsin
last year. On his 200 acre farm he was
able to keep ninety head of cattle. and
yet have several hundred dollars worth
OF grain TO sell. Mi. Hyatt thought
every farmer should be practical dairy
man. though tine possession of that
qualification did not necessarily imply
that every farmer should make
thu IffcinaCc nf HQIrvinn
cialty. AS matter of fact. how
ever. every farmer must keep some
cows, and if he possessed the practical
knowledge essential 10 success in the
dairy business it would prove profitable
10 him with few cows, and he would
be better farmer in other respects for
the possession of that knowledge. The
acquiring of it would learn him to be
SystenIatical in his work and would
make him close student of his bust
ness. hence better qualifying him for
success in other branches of farm in
duStry.
Mr.. Hubbard-Are there any distinc-
tive features by which we Can tell
good COW?
Mr.. Hyatt-There is no general rule
by which to Judge; you have to do a
good deal of guessing; there is also
good deal depending upon the care and
treatment given the cow. She should
have the best OF feed and care and such
kind treatment as will make her love
her owner. The heifer must be so treat
ed as to properly develop her dairy abil-
tiles IN order to insure her doing her
best as cow.
How long would YOU have COW go
dry?'
MIR. Hyatt-About eight to ten weeks.
ar fivrn ic ,rf In,,c
You can't dry off COW when she is
springing bag; she should be dried off
before that time SO as to give her needed
rest.
''Do you reduce the feed when drying
the COW off?''
Mr.. Hyatt-If COW is persistent
mixer. would put her down to clear
straw for few days, if pecessary, in
order to dry her and after she was COM
pletely dry, wonld put her back on
good feed again and build her up for
business the next year.
what does milk average in price in
Sheboygan county one year with an
other?'
MIR. Hyatt think the range is from
| 80 cents to 81 per 100 pounds of milk.
This year, from April to April. the milk
of my dairy will average me close to 81.
| Those who milk their cows only during
! the summer get about so cents per 100
pounds for the season. Those who milk
their cows during the winter get a
| higher average. the milk bringinga con-
| siderable higher price in winter.
''Do you feed turnips to your co1s2"
MIR. Hyatt-Yes, lots of them, and
turnip tops too, and they don't hurt the
| milk for butter or cheese either. l feed
| about bushel day of sliced turnips
to each of my cows, without the slight
est injury to the milk. Many claim
that that cannot be done, but the trou-
Bile is they doll't know how to do it.
'Turnips should be fed in the morning
Immediately after the cows are MIXED,
then there will be no tainting of the
| milk. That is the whole secret of feed
ing them. 1t is important that dairy
| men should know that. as large crops of
turnips can. be raised in dry seasons
like that of 1891, and they prove great
| help in the line of food for stock when
| other crops fail.