The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-02-15
OUR DAIRY HERD
Its Evolution
BY H. L. BLANCHARD.

said We would give the plan under
which we secured and manage our
dairy herd.
At the outset, in our experience as
a dairyman, we made few fatal mis-
takes, prominent among which was
that altogether too common error of
misunderstanding as to the Importance
the character of the COW bears to final
success in the business. We naturally
admired anything of the cow kind
that would produce milk containing
butter fat. We remember it was with
no little pride that we hitched Dolly
on the buggy and drove to market with
the two first churnings of butter that
had been made up into two-pound
rolls, wrapped in cloth, and placed in
a ten-quart pail This we exchanged
for few needed groceries, such as the
groceryman saw fit to allow us. The
COWS at this time were on flush pas
ture. There was no apparent feed
bill to pay for then. Later in the
season, as the flushness and succulence
of the pasture became materially
diminished, the weekly output of butter
became likewise diminished.
In the meantime we had stored away
for winter feeding to the COWS suf-
ficient hay, composed of timothy, red
top and June grass. The falling-off in
the quantity of butter and the rapid
advance in it's price appeared stimuli
taneously. Finally the COWS went al
together dry and were not to freshen
again until the following spring. When
spring came they were fat, and as
they freshened prices for butter
6rOnnn6 roni61U oc thnu hod a
vanced the previous fall. 1t soon be-
came clearly apparent to our mind
that the dairy business of the country,
out of joint with the natural condi-
tons. We promptly decided not to
continue doing as all others appeared
to be doing, but to try and reverse
matters and make and market fresh
butter at that time of the year when
the prices were the highest.
The first thing necessary in the eff
fort to carry out such departure was
to change the date for breeding the
herd, and which could be readily done
by postponement from the customary
time till the following November and
December In due time the COWS be-
come fresh in the fall and our fond
hopes DeCdm0, Ill d measure, SO lar
realized that our increase in confidence
and pride fully equaled 100 per cent
We saw that our business and dairy
knowledge, after much thought and
study, had began to take root and
grow. This, however, caused us to
see more clearly other rocks that our
enterprise was already humping upon,
and there was something yet to be
done or our growing cOnceit would be
"nipped in the bud" For instance, the
cows being fed on the hay referred
to, while appearing smooth and sleek,
became more and more disappointing
In their milk product. Mill feed was
purchased and added to the ration, but
without adequate results to warrant
the extra expense. Matters became
serious, and the question whether OF
not the cow was made to give milk
during the winter months became
prominent in our mind. AS we con-
sidered the matter, we were reminded
that by reason of our change from sum-
mer to winter dairying we had, without
the cows fault, entirely changed her
environment. Here was a good reason
for not yet joining the crowd that was
singing that old song, ''Dairying Don't
Pay"
1t was clear to be seen that it re-