The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-07-15
THE DAIRY
Winter or Summer Dairying.

summer carrying by "A. W.. ITOW is
timely and exceedingly important. In
our opinion winter dairying, if proper
ly conducted, is vastly more profitable,
in fact, we believe that a winter COW
under proper conditions is equal to
two spring COWS of the same capacity,
but as emphasized by Mr.. Trow the
conditions must be favorable, other
wise winter dairying will be failure.
when the cow is left to herself her
choice for freshening is usually in the
late spring. 1t is at this time that
nature provides an abundance of those
foods which are required by her for
the proper regulation of her system.
The succulent grass, with it's laxative
tendencies, contributes to the proper
adjustment OF her maternal organs
for the work in hand.
"Quite frequently the COW that
brings but small returns in winter,
for lack of proper care, will make q
good showing during the warm, sunny
days of spring and summer. 1t is the
warmth, the sunshine and the grass
that cause a liberal flow.
"AlthOugh nature selects spring as
the ideal time for the fresh COW, there
are many factors against this season,
among which are the low price of
summer butter, and the larger amount
of time to be had in winter for milk
ing and calf-raising The cow that
comes fresh in late autumn gets a
second impetus when turned on grass
the following spring, and if properly
cared for, will give more milk during
the year than the spring cow, and the
bulk of her produce will be placed on
the market during high prices. She
may then go dry at the worst of the
fly season. She takes her vacation
while our harvest work cuts short the
time for milking
"The autumn calf is ready to take
care of himself when grass grows,
while the spring calf must be fed for
an entire year before turning on pas
ture.
"In this winter dairying we are
running against nature and herein lies
the cause of frequent failures-fail-
ures for lack of an appreciation of the
needs of the winter cow If we are to
change the course of nature, We must
initiate natures methods, and provide
for this winter COW as nature provides
for her in summer; which means sum-
mer conditions in winter time. Stables
must be had that will make a summer
temperature. as the natural warmth of
summer enables the cow to utilize the
greatest possible amount of her food
in milk secretion. If we do not pro-
vide this summer temperature, she
will use valuable food for generating
heat. The food that is used in main
tanning animal heat cannot also be
utilized in manufacturing milk. One
investment in lumber for retaining the
heat is much cheaper than a continu-
Gus investment of expensive food for
generating it.
Numerous barn windows must be
provided for the admission of sunlight,
as winter sunlight admitted through
glass is equivalent to that of summer.
One of the most common defects of
the ordinary COW stables is it's absence
of windows. as not one in twenty has
the required window space for admit
ting the purifying, invigorating, germ
destroying sunlight. We have yet to
see the COW barn which has too many
windows.
"The green grass which the cow
eats in summer comes close TO bal
anced ration, which shows the wisdom
of feeding a balanced ration in winter
This grass contains the different ele
ments in the right proportion for milk