Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-02-21
Papers Read at Farmers Institute.
&" How to Secure the Most Profit From the
Dairy Cow"
BY III. HENRICkSON.

CHAIRMAN, GENTLEMEN" How to Sc
cure the most profit from the dairy cow" is
question which L am not able to answer
ers which | think if followed will make
dairying more profitable, than it is now in
general. There is no question but what
is an old saying" If a thing is worth doing
it is worth doing we'll" This is also true
with the dairy COW, the more attention
and care of the COW, the larger the net
profit. First see that you have a good
warm and well ventilated place for
your cows, warm enough so it will
not freeze, even in cold nights. Never
allow your cows to freeze, as the COW is
very feeble animal and will try and give
you returns for what you do for her. The
less COWS are exposed to the cold of the
winter the better; they eat less, thrive bet
ter and give more milk when kept housed
all the time, than when exposed to the
cold. Next see that she gets nothing but
good and wholesome food. The best and
er hay for roughage. This should be put
up in barn or hayshed, as lots of hay is
spoiled every year in stacks and if it is
1nanury it is not fit to feed to any animal
| have often heard farmers say. that hay
is no good for horses but the cows will eat
it all right; but the horse would eat it all
What hay that is not fresh enough for the
horse is no good for the COW either and
then feed a well balanced ration of grain,
so she will get the following ration: Dry
matter % to % lbs. Protein 2 to 2ia lbs. Car
bohydrates II to Is lbs, fat four-tenths to
elght-tenths, along with corn feed liberal
when corn is worth 30 cents per buShel and
wheat bran is worth SIT per ton, for the pro-
TEN 1T contains, and COW must have pro-
tein in order to give milk. Regularity in
feeding is also very important matter
1he healthy cows stomach is a very nice
time-keeper, and tits of the most import
ance to observe regular hours of feeding,
cleaning and milking. This is a point in
winch many farmers are at fault, feeding
whenever ,'a it is convenient The, COW is
kept IN restless condition, expecting feed
when entering the barn. If regular hours
are strictly adhered to they know exactly
when they are to be fed and rest quietly
ulated dairy establishment, ar hour before
' the time OF feeding and scarcely COW
be the hour of feeding the whole herd will
be likely to rise to their feet and size UP
their food with relish not to be mis-
Cows should never go to a creek or pond
for their drinking water. They should be
watered at a spring or well, not cold
the hair on their back and on stormy days
they should be watered in he barn. Every
farmer could have it fixed with very little
expense and it would pay them well.
Have your cows, as many as possible
to come fresh in the fall as they will give
me. milk in year and will stand dry in
the lily time and the drough we generally
nave during August and September and
then have them come in in October and
IVY CllDeI, So as 10 nave the milk when
we have high priced butter.
The COWS and barn should be kept clean
and we'll bedded with clean straw. Be
gentle to your cows, never speak to them
IN an angry tone, never allow dog to run
them, nor send Il man or boy on horseback
to the pasture after them, nor abuse them
in any other way.
Next, find out whether you are feeding
good COW or just an eater. 10 find this
out you should weigh the milk from each
COW at least once week and keep a record
OF same and have each cows milk tested
Tor Dutter-fat, at least twice year, or as
often as You can get it and see if she gives
Dutter,fat enough to pay for her feed and
COWS milk tested is a thing l have done
tor few farmers in Oaktield township
but only once year The butter-makers
have work enough, if they want to keep
their creamerieS in good condition. We
need testing associations, that is a num-
Der OF farmers o.hire an experienced man
provided with Il small testing out fit to 90
from farm to farm and test each cows
milk and could also give farmers good ad-
vice in feeding and other valuable infor-
nation concerning the dairy, and the
sooner our farmers do it the better, as that
is a thing hat must come. Foreign coun-
tries have had such testing outfits for
score of years with good results. There
are lots of cows that eat up the profit from
one or two otlier cows and makes dairyinu
Improbable.
me Qalrytlan must have a good Sprink-
ling of love. a love for the work and the
COW ana generous measure of common
sense. 1t these principles are directed
arlSht, success is sure to come and the
dairy COW will yield a better profit.