Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-01-22

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A writer in the Jersey Bulletin adj
vises breeders to raise only bull calves
enough so as to keep prices up above
the moderate prices the farmers are
willing to pay, and on the same page
another writer, who hides Scmc good
ideas in a volume of words, says no
breeder can sell bull calves short of
500. This may be correct where a fan
cy name, family or strain is at stake,
says L. w. Lightly in Stockman and
Farmer, but the fact is that the breed
ers of practical dairy stock have found
it improbable to follow such advice.
Many breeders have learned that there
is big demand for utility stock, and
while the fancy aristocracy go begging
for a buyer the breeder who advertises
in the farmers paper and offers pure
blood made calves with a line of pro-
genitors which put in their work at the
pail and churn finds a ready sale at
reasonable prices. There are dozens
yes, hundreds-of farmers and dairy
men who will pay $25 to $50 for bull
calf to grade up where there is one Nao
will buy a 500 or 5000 calf. Where the
breeder has ready sale for all his calves
at the prices that the farmer is willing
to pay moderate prices" ~ it would
seem to be more profitable than where
an occasional one is sold at fancy
price. 1t is difficult for the layman to
see why it is not more profitable to sell
calf for $35 at eight or ten weeks than
to veal it few weeks sooner at $3.50.
The Old Cow.
Many dairymen and others who milk
cows for profit believe that when a COW
reaches the age of seven or eight her
useful years are over and she should be
replaced by one younger Other things
being equal this is a mistake. accord
ing to Dairy and Creamery. A COW
that has been well cared for, with gen.
erous rations and proper attention, is
better and will make more profitable
return at eight years than at any ear.
lier age She is then in her prime and
will not be considered an old COW until
,
Cows with first calves-at two or three
years = are generally improbable in
their milk yield, and one really good
COW between seven and eight years old
will pay a better revenue than two that
are performing their first years duties
in the dairy herd. Moreover, she will
probably consume but little more food
than one of the younger ones. The fact
is worthy the consideration of those
who are dairying for profit.
Growing Demand For Good Cows.
Four carloads of cows were shipped
from Elgin, ILL.,, recently en- route to
Mexico. where the owner proposes to
establish large dairy farm.
Every indication points to a constant
~ increasing demand for good cows in
the future, says Hoard's Dairyman. A
great many dairy farmers are giving
but superficial study to this feature
of their business. Their eyes are too
much centered on the raising of a steer.
There is much less expense in the rails
ing of good heifer to two years of
age, and the price to be obtained for
IL
of an average seer of the same age.
The fact is, this dairy business is not
yet organized for the making of good
money on a quarter of the dairy farms
in the country
Good and Poor Cows.
Not only cows of different breeds,
but individuals of the same breed, diff
fer widely in the production of milk
and butter fat. Likewise some animals
are good feeders while others are light
eaters. 1t is not the amount of food
consumed, but the marketable product
given in return, that determines the
value of cow. The animal yielding an
income of $50 with an outlay of $40 for
feed is money saver, while one whose
cost is $50, but whose products bring
only $50, is money loser. Until the
products of COW equal in value the
cost of her feed she is kept at direct
loss to the owner.
The Dairy Steer.
Every now and then somebody hobs
up with dairy steer that does some
thing wonderful, according to his ac-
count, and then some editor who never
fed steer IN his life jumps to the con-
clusion that dairy cattle are all right
as beef producers. If you ever see
anything of this kind, label it nonsense
and let 1t go at that. Or if you want
to learn valuable lesson get some of
these steers, put some high priced corn
into them and learn it. There should
be no dairy bred steer. He should go
on to the veal market at an early age.
-Stockman and Farmer.
Test at ST. Louis Fair.
A dairy breed test will be held at the
st. Louis fair In 1904. 1t is already ex-
citing little interest among the breed
ers Of dairy cattle. and they appear to
be preparing for the fray. At the Buff
falo Pan-American it was claimed for
some of the breeds that they did not
have time, they did not have the cattle,
they did not have this, that or the 9TH
er. This time there may be excuses,
but they will count for nothing. The
records of the breeds will stand. Those
which do not appear will be left out in
more ways than one. 1t is better to be
third or fourth in contest than not to
be in the business at aIl.-Exchange.
Raising Heifer Calves.
Raise only such heifer calves as viii
increase the production of the herd.
Feed only such foods as viii grow bone
and muscle and not fat Keep in mind
that you are after herd of dairy cows,
and just as soon as fattening foods are
fed the tendency to lay on flesh is en-
couraged. Don't starve her. however.
but give her plenty Of skimmilk, bran,
oats and alfalfa hay. Just at first a
little oilmeal or faxseed jelly will help
TO keep the calf thrifty. A little Of the
leafy engiIage without the grain win be
good for her.