The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-12-21
FARMERS INSTITUTE
Continued From Last Week.
DAIRY DEPARTMENT.

|
Mr.. G. III. Everett, Beloit, Wis, said
the profitable cow is never very large
Size is of Importance. She is always
thin in flesh. Her function in life is to
produce milk from the feed given her,
and not beef. If she converts part o.
the feed into milk and part into bee
she is not dairy COW and cannot be
profitable. The dairyman can get nc
pay for the iced cow puts upon hel
back unless he kills the cow. The
dairy COW has form peculiar to her
self. Note the large muzzle, the clear
outstanding intelligent eye and the
large strong jaws, capable of doing
lots of work, the thin neck and ligh
} limbs; no superfuous flesh anywhere
Prominent backbone indicative o.
great nerve power, long silky tail
large udder running up well behind
and we'll forward toward front legs,
wedge shape from both ends towards
the barrel which should be of large ca.
pacity. Milk is made from The feed
CONSUMED by the COW. The more she
eats the more milk will she give [pro-
viding that she has the form described
hence the necessity for powerful jaws,
large storage and digestive capacity.
The true dairy cow always has this
type. care much more for the type
than the breed from which she may
come, because we find this dairy form
in many of the breeds. 1t is always
we'll to remember that the dairy COW
has been bred for hundreds of years
for special purpose, that is for the
milk production. The beef COW has
been bred quite as long with the single
idea in view of beef production. Do
not throw feed away in trying to make
beef of the dairy COW, but force her
full capacity in the work for which
she has been so we'll fitted, and when
her life is ended give her decent
burial. 1t is useless also to attempt
to make money dairying with the beef
COW. See how she is built, think of
the years of patient work in fitting her
for a special purpose. She will make
beef at a profit but ruin the man who is
after rich milk in paying quantities.
The safest way to get a herd of good
dairy COWS is to raise them. Every
farmer has some COWS that are better
than others. 1t is his duty as bust
ness dairyman to get at the value of
his COWS as to their ability to convert
feed into milk. Poor COWS are board
ers upon your hands that pay nothing
for their board. Get rid of them. Do
not sell them to your neighbors, but
send them to the canning factory.
1t is now time to study the dairy sire.
Choose one from, some of the dairy
breeds. In making the selection one
Should be careful as to his ancestry.
Look the animal over carefully, if he
has the dairy form, is. masculine in
has we'll developed rude
mentaries, and shows plenty of vigor
he is allrightindividually. Next study
his pedigree. Did his sire come from
a rich milking family? Has he pro-
duced heifers with marked ability?
What was his dam and grand dam?
Turn to the mothers side. Has she
good record at the pail and was her
mother great cow? This is all neces-
sary because these good qualities are
transmitted to the offspring. The bet
ter the ancestry the better the individ-
ual. He will be more prepotent, bet
ter able to transmit dairy qualities to
his calves. When you buy such an
animal be sure that you get his pedi-
gree and that he is recorded. The
pedigree is a history of his breeding,
a guarantee of his purity and will be
demanded when you desire to dispose
OF him. Calves from your best COWS
and such a sire as have described will
be a great improvement upon their
mothers, and if you continue to test
these helfers and breed only from the
best, you will have a herd of COWS in
a few years that will surprise you.
Very much depends upon the feed and.
care given these heifer calves in de-
veloping them. Remember that you
want no beef-making in this business.
A heifer calf intended for the dairy is
materially injured If allowed to get
fat. Study the feeding question, the
composition of feeds. Feed forgrowth,
skimmilk, oats, bran and clover hay
are all excellent calf feeds, the best
kind also for COWS. I would not feed
these calves cornmeal, nor corn ensil-
age. They are too fattening. Edu-
cate these heifers to give milk ten
months in the year. Provide warm
clean, dry quarters for cows and calves
When you expose the dairy cow to
cold and harsh treatment she requires
more food and gives less milk.
Have faith in your business. Study
its opportunities and details. Strive
to profit by noting the experience OF