The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-12
The Dairy Cow in Winter.

A careful student of agriculture said re-
Gently that If a large majority of those en-
gagged in farming were under the direction
of competent overseers they would work to
much better advantage and profit. The
marked advantage that all large enter
prises have is higher skill in Management
and direction-men who are trained for
specialty-not so on the ordinary farm. The
business is parceled out and each occupant
of piece of land attempts to familiarize
himself with all operations. 1t is inevita-
Die that those working thus fail to attain
that high perfection of skill that comes
from systematic organization. This prin-
clple is very noticeable in dairying. Nine
out of ten of the creameries that have
closed this season have been forced to do
so Tor want of sufficient milk to run at a
profit; and the patrons are stopping be-
cause the amount realized from their
milk does not exceed the cost of produc-
ton. The trouble lies mainly on the farm.
The cost of milk production is rarely
reduced to minimum. Creameries are not
properly managed and some are not equip
ped with suitable machinery and competent
help, but far greater loss takes place on
the farm-with the COW and her manage
ment. This is especially likely to be the
case with the Western farmer who turns
to dairying after having practiced the pre-
vail1ng extensive system of farming. In
most of the best dairy sections of the West
a large proportion of the foreign popula-
ton may be found. In almost every cream
cry the most successful patrons are for
eigners. The Danes, Norwegians and Swiss
farmers of America make exceptionally
good dairymen. The secret is plain-they
have learned the lesson of taking care of
their cows.
The approach of winter reminds the
thoughtful dairyman of the necessity of
warm quarters. This is an absolute recess
sity to economical production and no man
who has studied the effect of cold and OK
posture will allow his cows to 20 without
. proper protection. 1t is much cheaper to
| maintain animal heat and milk pre- duction
| by well lined stable walls than by addi-
| tional feed. Experiments conducted at the
INDIANA experiment station show that COWS
exposed to the inclemency of winter wealth.
er lost in flesh, ate more feed and gave
less milk than those having shelter The
loss due to exposure amounted to S12 70 per
COW in As days. This amount on herd of
COWS will easily cover the difference be-
tween profit and loss. 1t will soon amount
to the price of a COW barn
Alexander Pattin relates a case in point
of practical interest in the Scottish Farm
er. dairy farmer had a herd of cows
that were losing SO per week. Many herds
in this country are doing that kind of bus
mess and the owner does not know it, He
tried by liberal feeding to place the herd
on paying basis, but failed. His cows
were OF GOOD grade and the loss could
not be looked for in that direction FINALLY
| 1t occurred that the trouble was with the
| temperature of the barn, and when the
! large open loft above the cows was closed
| ana the barn brought to a constant temper
| allure of 60 degrees, which was accomplished
without artificial heat the loss was chang
ed to profit of $14 per week on the same
COWS. In other words, it took $24 worth of
grain per week to warm the hay loft.
Rather expensive business. Carelessness
and ignorance are always expensive.
Expensive buildings are not necessary
but make them warm for the COW. Then
feed and bed her we'll. There is no money
made in scrimping on either.-Farm and
Dairy.