The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-10
No. 40


IN any respect, nor do We register any
doubtful animals. We do not raise
! animals for sale Or keep poor ones on
the place long.
The cross between the pure H )lstein
and the Jersey cow is generally q mon.
grei, or mixed in an utter confusion of
! colors, aud wooly to a great degree.
The eye and deer like head Of the Jer-
sey can be detected at times, while their
| form is smoother, more plump and less
b0ny than either the H0lstein or Jersey,
| and their size is between the two. The
first cross between the H0lstein and
common stock is uniformly black and
white, while a0out one SIKH OF the SEC
ond cross goes back in color to the dam
OF the first cross, and the crosses there
after prove true to the H0leteiDs in
color.
Oar present gradc-HoIsteins give
aojut twice as much milk as the grade
jersey did ten years ago, while their
milk stands On 6n average at about
per cent. butter fat by the B4bcock
test, which is about the eama as that
from the Jersey grades. Oar herd
numbers on an average about 800 and
our two milking barns hold about 500,
which number we aim TO keep good, in
good mixers. The present herd shows
larger animals, with more vigOr and
prOductiveness than at any time here
toforp, and we feel that there will be
constant improvement through our
method OF breeding and selection that
will in time bring up our herd to q
standard IN which we may take pride
and profit, and which may yet remain
a public benefaction.
We have some 2, 900 out Of 5000 acres
seeded to rye and orchard grass now
| in fine condition, although some of it
has been seeded for twenty years. Be-
side this feed, we purchase annually
| about 1, 900 tons OF mill and other feed,
and about 800 tons Of hay. We feed
mostly barley and bran, but for eco
nomical reasons, we have fed large
quantities. Of wheat, corn, beans, peas,
beete, carrots, squash, oil cake, etc.
We grind cur grain on the farm, that
we may be sure that it is sound and
wholesome.
All our fields have eprings Of pure
water running by gravitaUion into large
trOughs-not we'll or pump on the
place. The land is rolling and we'll
sodded, and cattle are never in the mud
in the worst of weather. We only
stable our animals about six hours
daily, during feeding and milking, as
our winters are mild and the grass is
then at it's best. Each mixer milks
and cares for string of 80 COWS, and
does little else, at $50 par month and
board.
We have had to purchase many COWS
every year to keep the milking barns
full, because we have not the land to
raise enough calves, and herein has
been our greatest difficulty. Most of
of cur milk dairymen raise but few
calves. The remaining milk goes to
the hogs at an early date. They can
rot sell them to the stock. raisers, be-
|
while the stock raiser is interested in
beef alone and cannot furnish good
COWS to the dairymen, and thus the
two are widely separated and Of no use
to each other, for economical reasons,
they think.
There is opportunity for both. Some
Of the largest stock-raisers here have
been of late following the course we
have pursued, and now there is in the
market quite an increased number Of
COWS Of the first and second Holstein
cross. These COWS bring from $40 to
$50 each, while the common cow brings
from $50 to $35 Some Of our largest
stock -raisers now keep dairy herds
more for the purpose Of breaking In
heiters and raising better bulls than for
dairy produces 8, as they can sell good
three year old COW for twice as much
as a steer of the same age and weight,
and good young bulls for much more.
They find that young stock must be
we'll cared for in their youth in order
to secure weight and vitality in their
maturity.
The Holstein seems 20 be the only
breed, at present, that will produce,
through crossing with other breeds, a
general purpose COW profitable for both
meat and milk. Such is the experience
on this coast so far as know, and it is
a great satisfaction to think and be-
lieve that the appalling waste In the