Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-01
Thirteen Good Dairy Lessons.
EVERY ONE WORTH READING AND RE
MEMBERING.

F1rSt.-That the dairy business can not
be learned in one day, one month, or
one year, even if one does read all he can
about the business. Reading about the
dairy, and running the dairy are two
different things. There are things We
must practice, before We will learn them.
Milking is one of the things; we become
expert only by practice. One who can
start and milk steady gait will have
better results than the one that milks
fast, then slow, then fast again. We
must learn to milk steady gait and as
fast as it is possible for us to keep it up,
till the cow is milked dry. Feeding is
another thing We must experience before
we can feed successfully. What each
COW wants and the quantity she wants
we must learn by actual practice.
Second.-It is almost impossible to
buy a number one dairy cow; she is
seldom, if ever, for sale, and if she is
for sale, friend or neighbor will get
her. We cannot tell the value of dairy
COW until we have MIXED her through
one period of lactation and used the
scales and tester in determining the
G lantity and quality of her milk. She
may have perfect shaped body and
udder, and yet be defective in some way.
She may have the self-milking habit, a
kicker, breachy cow, or hold her milk
and not let it come down as she should,
or some other habit that would make
her an improbable cow. The safest
way is to raise the dairy herd by careful
selection of dam and sire, and using
only the very best milk strain to be had.
Third have learned that cow will
fail to yield her owner profit on an
empty stomach and the shady side of a
barb wire fence for shelter. She must
be satisfied with both feed and shelter
for "a hours day, seven days week
and y weeks in year, in order to be
profitable. Comfort means profit with
a COW. If she is satisfied she will not
need an iron yoke, or a crotch of a cot
to keep her from going through
the fence.
Fourth.-I have learned that keeping
a record of each cows milk, of both
quantity and quality, will promote bet
ter care in feeding, also promote better
cows. The time it takes to do this
amounts to but very little, and will de-
tect the robbers in the herd.
Fifth have learned in the past
season that my cows, running in the
pasture would fall off gradually for four
or five weeks, then after good shower
they would go back to their former
WELD per day. If l had supplied them
with feed during that time, my profit
would have been much greater.
Sixth.-That it pays to get good
milk breed. They are generally of
kinder disposition and when you feed
dairy cow she will show it in the milk
part and not in laying on of flesh; with
the half breed il is just the reverse.
Seventh.-That it pays better to run
a dairy without a dog. The cows are
quieter. A dog that will nip their heels
will cause kick cows. The moment one
touches the cows leg while milking she
will kick, thinking the dog is after her.
[ used to think it was impossible to get
along without dog to drive the cows
with, but since | have been without one
the cows are SO much quieter and the
cows do not offer to kick. have no
fault to find with dogs for other cattle.
Eighth.-That it pays to keep the cows
clean, and also the stable by having
floor of some kind and gutter about
seven or eight inches deep and sixteen
or eighteen inches wide behind the cows;
il is then an easy matter to keep the cow
and stable clean. The barn should be
cleaned both morning and night; also
the heifer calf that is kept in a clean
and dry place till she becomes a COW
will not lie in filth if she can help it;
also if a heifer calf is provided with
clean water and not allowed to drink
out of a mud puddle it will be hard to
get her to drink filthy water. | have
three Jersey cows and one heifer that
were kept and raised in pasture that
had only a mud puddle for them to
drink out of and, after got them they
would drink out of mud puddle before
they would drink out of tank, when
none of the other cows would do this.
Ninth. by feeding the cows after
milking, the milk will not have any
odor from the feed we may
give them. In my part of the country
we are bothered very much with wild
onions or garlic in the pasture, and for a
few weeks in the spring we could hardly
use either milk or butter, but when we
take the cows out of the pasture three
or four hours before milking, the smell
of onions cannot be detected in the milk
or butter.
Tenth.-That sugar beets and sugar
beet tops make very good feed, but must
be fed carefully or they will cause the
milk to have peculiar odor. Should
not be fed heavy if COWS are kept in the
barn all the time on account OF the
strong odor they cause. Tops make
much better feed if cured, but if fed very
heavy it will take long time to churn
the cream.
Eleventh. have learned that calf
given alfalfa hay as soon as it will eat IL
will make a better calf than on any
other roughness l ever fed. l have
raised as good calves on separated,
SKINNED milk, oil cake and alfalfa hay
as can be raised running with a COW.
Oil cake and alfalfa hay are cheaper
than butter fat.
Twelfth have learned that it will
take years to build up very good dairy
herd and that we must be very careful
in breeding and purchasing our herd.
NV plan in starting out would be to pur-
chase good heifers, just little before
they become fresh. By careful selection
and care one can build upa good herd
in few years.
Thirteenth.-I have learned great
deal in the past year, no doubt have
learned only what others in the dairy
business have learned years ago, and
/ expect to learn great deal more II
stay in the business. intend to stay
in it, too. l find that it requires atten-
ton every day, we have no days OIL; we
do not have to wait till the end OF the
wear for harvest, it comes every day; it
is very good teacher to teach one to
tend strictly to business. When we
work by the month or day and we lay
off day ones pay stops, too; we would
lay off a great many days il we could lay
of and draw pay, too. In the dairy
business, if we neglect our work for one
day, we do not only suffer loss for that
day but for days to come. find 1t Is
very good business for one that has
family growing up for it teaches them
TO be Industrious and helpful, but
have learned that cannot tell the boys
to 90 and do this or that, but when am
with the boys and say come and let's DO
this or that thing, We can accomplish
something. My wife and | expect to