Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-13
Maine Department of Agriculture.
DAIRY IMP sovEMENT.

Dairying is one of the most important
branches of Maine farming. 1t offers
special inducement from the fact that il
is a cash business, most dairymen re
ceiving the pay from their product as
often as once month. The farmer
then has his cash with which to buy,
and can take advantage of the markets
and the discounts of the trade. The
average farmer is safer in the dairy bust.
ness than in most other lines of farming,
and he knows nearer his profits day by
day. The man who is raising horse
cannot look for returns in less time than
from three to five years; and with steer
it must be two years, and in the hands
of the average man it is nearer four, be-
fore maturity is reached.
Another important point is the benefit
which the soil derives from this indus
try. Our soils need more attention than
they did in their virgin state; it is more
essential that the farmer should turn
his attention to that kind of farming
that will best retain and increase their
fertility. Dairying, if properly manag-
ed and the by-productS are properly
utilized, will keep up the fertility of the
farm better, will give more return with
less exhaustion of the soil, than any
other system of farming now practiced,
The large increase in the consumption
of dairy products would indicate that
there is still room for growth in this in
dustry. Sweet cream, which was once
regarded as luxury, to-day can be
found, in many cases, upon the the table
of the ordinary laborer at every meal.
Milk, cream and butter, the products of
the COW, are now considered so much
more healthful that they are replac lg
to quite an extent the pork and other
produces of the hog which were so much
used in former years.
Notwithstanding the possibilities of
this industry, there are yet, we fear,
many farmers who realize but small
profits from their dairy he. DIS. There is
great opportunity for improvement in
our work. The average production of
the cows of the State does not exceed
200 pounds of butter per year, and we
cannot hope to realize la.ge returns
from our business when we are pursuing
it with animals of this type. Improve
nent in our dairy herds is one of the
greatest needs of Maine dairying. In
general, the best way to grade up herd
is for the diaryman to select his best
producers TO breed from, and breed only
to thoroughbred males that come from
the best producing herds in the land;
and then the constant care of selection is
needed. 1t will not always hold true
that you will breed the best f.om the
best stock. There will now aud then be
a weaker amin al, weaker in producing
qualities and weaker in physical develop
ment. The only way to have the best
dairy herd is to be constantly wedding
out the inferior animals ard replacing
them with so ne that have all the desire
able qualifications. This will require
c'ose per onal attention, but it will re-
pay the efforts of the dairyman. TIE
differe ice in the product of good COW
and poor or indifferent one will make
the difference between success and fail
ure. Whatever breed you are using,
you should always keep the best in
view.
The feed, care and surroundings of
the dairy herd are matters of much i'm
porta1ce. A great deal depends upon
the feed that is given the calf all the way
along until it is developed into COW.
You should feed to develop the milk
producing qualities rather than the beef
features.
A healthful, we'll ventilated barn is |
to the best production of the
cows. We fear that many barns are
built with little thought of sanitary
drain. ge or ventilation. A stable should
be kept warm or there will be 4 loss OF
milk, and if warm stable is not suf- |
Iiciently ventilated the poisonous air
will reduce the visor of the animals and
make them en- easy prey to disease.