The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-12
Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED BY FULTON S. WHITE.

per day and where ] saw mixers on the
farms going out to milk a COW in a quart
cup. Here were cows giving four pounds
of poor milk per day Sometimes we
would find a farmer who had a COW that
was giving a gallon (eight poundsl of
milk per day and they thought that they
had an extra good COW. How does this
compare with the cows at this great
dairy show where there were COWS that
gave thirty-two pounds of milk per day?
What makes the difference?
The man in the south has every adj
vantage in winter dairyng. Here the
climate favors him and enables him to
grow a greater line of feeds and he can
also feed cheaper than can his northern
competitor in this business. Yet the
man from cold Wisconsin and far-away
snow bound Minnesota comes to the
great dairy show in cold, windy Chicago
in mid-winter with COWS that have been
shipped for hundreds of miles and they
give all the way from twentyfour to
thrty-two pounds Of milk per day, while
the average COW of the south gives from
four to eight pounds in her own home.
| am not speaking now of the dairy
cows Of tho south. for they, no doubt
average better But what OF the COM
mon farmers COW? There Is a reason
for this. Sometimes l think that our
farmers of the south have too much
climate. for man from Baldwin coun15
ty. Alabama, said to me the other day,
"In Alabama we are selling the climate
and giving the land away with it, Our
people have been depending too much
upon climate and not enough upon in
dustry and feed We should not be mis-
lead I'm these matters, because of our
climatic advantages.
The sudden changes and cold rains we
have in the south are more injurious
or hurtful to our mich cows than are
the cold winters of the NORTH so that
our COWS need shelter and protection
against these sudden changes and cold
snaps and should be well housed and
we'll fed during such spells of weather.
Nothing checks the flow of milk quicker
than to have the COW out in cold north-
eastern wind. True. that these cold snaps
are short and for this reason we can
the better afford good feed and shelter
while they last.
Northern Dairymen Educated.
The dairymen of these northern states
have been educated in these matters and
our people of the south must learn that
IL takes feed to produce heat and energy
IT. an animal and where the COW is well
sheltered. it takes less feed for heat. The
COW is able to turn more of her feed
to milk and butter whore she is properly
cared for
Some writer said that cleanliness was
next TO goodness This is as true with
the miIch cow as with men. The cows
that are giving big yields of milk are
kept clean and this is necessary in order
to have the milk pure and clean. The
cows are eurried every day at least, and
all dirt washed off before they are MIXED
There is another point here that our
people should remember, that the men
who are making money out of the dairy
business work the whole year through.
There is no time to idle in this or any
other business, for that matter if we are
to succeed The great secret Of sue
cess in any line of business is to do
the right thing at the right time and
in the right way.
Hollow Horn and Hollow Tail.
We frequently hear farmers talking
about their cows having hollow horn
or hollow tail and they seek remedies
for these Imaginary diseases of cattle
when the facts are that the COW has a.
hollow stomach that Is effecting the cow.
The cure Is plain and anyone can follow
it out. Give the COW plenty Of good
food, good shelter and Keep her clean
and there will be no complaint of hollow
horn or hollow tail.
One good COW, well fed and cared for
will nay better than a dozen the way
our farmers are generally managing their
cows. Only a few days ago a friend
of mine refused 800 cash for a milch COW
which was feeding two families with milk
and butter How does this compare with
the man on Texas ranch milking twenty
cows to get enough for one family? In
Texas and the territories the cattle are
allowed to become so poor that they
can hardly walk and they go around try
ing in any way to get something to eat.
There is no pay in keeping poor stock,
especially poor mich COW. 1t is fat
that we expect to sell. We want to sell
beef, fat pork and butter fat. so what
economy is there in farmer allowing an
animal to become poor? A poor COW gives
no butter fat. a poor hog Will not sell
for sausage or lard so IL is a strange thing
that any farmer will keep stock that he
cannot feed and keep fat. Do not even
keep a dog unless you can feed him and
keep him fat