Oxford Democrat., 1908-04-21
Shall We Ra' Sc More Cows?

A somewhat extended study into
dairy conditions in New England leads
me to the conclusion that we are ap-
preaching q COW famine. Statistics
abundantly prove that there are not 80
many cows in proportion to the popula-
tion as there were at the close of the
last decade. We are also aware that our
people are using more of the products of
the dairy per capita than formerly.
These two conditions warrant an exten-
sion of our dairies through the raising
of more heifer calves.
The first consideration, of course, is
the choice of the right stock from which
to breed, and in the light of our present
dairy knowledge this is not hard task.
For supplying the demands of nearby
city markets they need not be purebred,
but should carry enough of the blood of
some dairy breed to give them the gen.
eral type and color markings of that
breed, be fully up to the average size
and rich in constitution and vigor.
Heifers raised from such cows bred to a
prepotent purebred male of the same
breed will find ready sale at remunera-
tive prices. Males resulting from such
breeding can be disposed of as veals at
prices that will make them an important
by product of the dairy. The same is
true of those heller calves which for any
reason one may not wish to raise. There
need be no blanks.
There should be no difficulty in select
ing the breed. Personal appearance,
market conditions, the characteristics of
the farm and the breed most popular
and the most liable to become generally
kept in the neighborhood are the factors
that should govern the selection.
Where the conditions will warrant,
where the owner is willing to strive to
learn and master the intricacies of breed
ing, and where sufficient capital is avail
able, would advise choosing purebreds
of the chosen breed. Given these con-
ditions, | know of no special line of
farming that offers greater inducements
to young man than the raising of
heifers to help fill the COW shortage that
is all the time becoming more apparent.
A dairy, once established, will pay
well in it's regular channels, aud through
its by-products will constantly add to
the productive values of the farm on
which it is kept; and the young cows,
sold to dealers or to dairymen near the
large cities, will aid in creating a sub
stantial yearly revenue.
Now is the time for the young man to
establish himself firmly in dairying.
The prevailing high prices of grain, the
scarcity of help and the disinclination
to stick closely to business are driving
the weakhearted to seek new fields.
Many will be found jumping into some
other special line that for the moment
may offer inducement of quicker re-
turns, more business for the money in
vested or greater ease for the operator.
Ii matters not that by the time they get
well placed there others ahead of them
will have filled the vacant places and
the markets to overflowing. These
places must be filled by others W no have
mastered the intricacies of dairy hus-
bandry and have determined to stay by
it till they conquer. The reputation of
a herd can be established by choosing
minimum of production for each animal,
according to its age, and rigidly exclud-
ing all that fall below it by having good
foundation stock, by taking good care,
by liberal and judicious feeding and by
square dealing under all circumstances.
B. Walker McKeen in Tribune Farmer.