The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-01-06

The Economical Cow.
As all successful breeders realize. the |
time Is past when We can wholly rely
upon the pedigree a. a guide In select |
ing the animals whose characteristics
We wish TO perpciuate In our nocks or
herds. Not that the Law OF heredliy =
any less true than formerly. but be-
cause We are coming TO appreciate that
an animal parent II more likely TO
transmit It's own characteristics rath-
er than those OF some ancestors. So.
instead Of studying the pedigree and
the pedigree only. the breeder Of today
will study In lie connection the indiyid-
uallly. the type and general conforma-
tion Of the animal with special refer
enee 10 their economy OF production.
approaching the fac; that more and
more will the cost Of production" be
the standpoint from which all animals
kept for production be judged Apply
Ing this principle TO dairy cattle, the
question ls raised, What sort Of COW
Is the most economical and therefore
the best COW? That COW Is the most
profitable which will produce pound Of
butter fat the most economically, ana
although Il Is conceded that there D.
more difference In the individuals OF
the same breeds than there is In the dlt-
fcrent breeds. that breed which con.
tnins the greatest proportion OF most
economical COWS IL the best breed.
In order for a COW TO produce a poune
Of butter fat economically (which
should be the standard by which all
dairy COWS should be Judged. she must
be able 10 consume a large amount Of
coarse fodder. which. OF necessity. viii
always be grown In large guam
titles By every farmer and dairy
man. All OF these coarse foods
contain the same ingredients found IN
the grains and concentrated by-prod-
uc,s. but not In the same proportion
and for this reason a COW is Obliged q
cat go pounds OF corn stalks 10 get the
amount OF nutriment which she would
obtain from a few pounds OF corn meal
and bran for example Hence Il fol-
lows that n an animal can consume
enough roughage. whose intrinsic val
ne Is a very few cents. and get from u
the same amount OF digestive nutrients
that would be obtained In eight pounds
OF highly concentrated food which q
in;rinsically worth that many cents Of
more. she will be. by far. more profia
bic than one whose limited capaci,,
will allow her 10 take but a few pounds
OF rouehage and the main part Of who's
ration must be highly concentrated an'
expensive.
Considering the general type Of tn
Holstein breed. Is II too much 10 sal
that as a breed II contains a CREATE
proportion OF COWS capable. on &C
count Of their large storage capacities
Of making butter cheaper than any 9th
or breed. I was very much interested
In looking over the results obtained a
the Minnesota Experiment Station from
herd OF % cows composed Of nearll
all breeds and their grades. to find tina
In a years trial the COW that produces
the most butter was a high-grade Hol
stein and that the next greatest amour
was produced By registered Holsteir
the two making i9i and $50 pounds re
spectlyely. al an average cos; Pc
, pound OF SOC cents and 9.o6 cents. q
; course Il Is unfair to draw any conclu
] sions from 30 few figures. but they ceT
tainly serve to indicate that the larg'
roomy Holsteln, properly handled. ha
} before her a future as a large an
] economical butter producer.-H. Has
ward In Journal OF Agriculture.