The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-12-04
Proceedings Of the November Meeting Held
at Residence of Robt. T. Cameron--Oys-
tiers and Good Roads--The Dairy Herd.
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obvious would be for the dairyman to sell
all of the cows he may happen to have on
hand and put his money into pure blood
stock of any one of number of dairy
breeds that have found favor in the eyes
of breeders. The second way would be
to keep the cows already owned and by
putting pure bred dairy sire of recog-
nized merit at the head of the herd, and
then by process of careful selection Of
heifer calves from the best cows gradually
build up herd of superior qualities.
OF these two methods mentioned the
hope of buying pure bred herd can be
realized by but very few of the wealthiest
farmers. The ordinary dairy farmer
must depend on the amount of milk that
COW gives for his income. Pure bred
cows, while they may give more milk or
larger quantity of butter fat than the
common stock found on the most Of the
farms, command price not CONNIE nsu-
rate with their product but which is based
largely on the fact that they are pure
bred. Unfortunately for the great body
of dairymen who are anxious to improve
their herds in any way possible the breed
ing of pure bred cattle has become fad
among a class of rich men who indulge
in farming for the pleasure of it, and who
not caring for the amount of money that
may be required to maintain their estates
and indulge their tastes. are willing to
pay what often seems fabulous prices for
stock and in this way keep the prices of
all pedigreed animals, especially cows,
way beyond what most dairymen are able
to pay.
The activity shown by many of the
best practical dairymen of the country in
their desire to improve their herds by the
use of good bulls is most commendable,
and it is very likely that by this means
the ultimate improvement of the dairy
herds of the state will be brought about.
But any dairyman will recognize that this
is slow process, requiring number of
years to bring to its fulfllment. There
are so many things that combine to make
this so. The crossing of full bred bulls
on native stock has a tendency to bring
male calves instead of the desired heifers,
and then too many of the heifers that are
dropped do not prove to be entirely salts
factory and profitable. Ten years is a
reasonable estimate of time that will be
required to bring herd Of natives up to
a paying herd of graded stock. This
seems to be ten years lost. and the ques-
ton naturally arises, is there any way by
which the herd can be brought to better
believe at the State Experiment Station
that we have solved this problem.
The herd at the Station was gathered
up from among the native stock of the
state, and when the individuals of the
herd were brought together, it is very
doubtful if they were any better than the
average found through the state. AS soon
as they were brought to the Station the
conditions under which they were kept
were changed for the better. They were
stabbed, curried as is horse every day in
the year, and received liberal feed o.
grain every day they were in milk, botf
winter and summer. This feeding var.
led in the fact that perhaps many of the
cows received more aud better grain when
in full flow of milk, but they also re.
ceived during the summer months, when
but very few cows of the state receive
anything but pasture grass. Under this
treatment the cows commenced TO im
prove, not in the first year was it SC
noticeable, but in subsequent years there
was constant increase in the amount Of
milk, and in the amount of butter made
from this milk. In the five years that
the herd has been at the Station some
good records have been made from COWS
that did not promise at the start to ever
be able to pay for their feed. One COW
made 200 pounds of butter the first year
and 42o the fifth year, and this though
she was old enough at the time she was
bought to lead to the conclusion that she
was or should have been in her prime as
a dairy animal. This was the best record
made, but only one COW in the herd failed
to respond to our treatment, and she was
SO evidently of the beef type that we did
not feel that her record was against our
conclusions i'll the least. Not one COW
paid for her feed the first year we owned
her, and but one COW failed to come nj
to very profitable dairy standard Of
production. This was accomplished in SC
short time compared with the time re.
qnired for breeding up herd of grades,
and at so little cost compared with the
expense of buying pure bred herd that
we recommend it to the attention of all
dairymen of the state. III fact where
there is au attempt to breed up herd Of
grades the system followed at the Station
of feeding with breeding must be prac.
ticed by all dairymen for the best results,
for blooded stock require even better
treatment than do natives.
Mr.. Doane, further stated that
he favored the Guernseys and Jer-
seys for dairy purposes and re.
sponded to number of questions
regarding proper amount of feed
and other points on the care of the
herd.
A. B. McVey, Jas. H. Maxwell