The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-20

| AT the Worlds Fair daily test where
high yield was the main feature,
had the good fortune to make study
OF the possibilities Of each COW In one
OF the herds. Every COW was fed all
that she could stand and 1t was a
problem to DO this without over-feed-
Ing. but I believe that under those
conditions every COW in that herd was
fed to her limit. yet every COW paid a
handsome profit. and have noted In
my observations on many dairy herds
that 1t is always the generous feeder
that is making the most money. So
in judging your cows 40 not condemn
them until you have given them fair
trial, and convince yourself beyond a
reasonable doubt that they should be
executed. Do not condemn them on
circumstantial evidence. but have pos
tive evidence Of their guilt. and that
can be secured only by keeping an ac-
curate record Of each ones perform
ance with the scales and Babcock tes-
ter as an eyewitness to the deed.
Feed. breed and study to produce a
large yield. but do not lose sight of
the cost OF production.
Up to this time we have not touched
on the cost of feeding. which. of
course. IL vital point and one that Is
just as important as the selection Of
the cows. 1t is understood that the
feed has most important bearing on
the performance Of the COW. We
know that the prices of feed stuffs
are high, In some cases beyond their
feeding value. but that should not af-
feet the enterprising dairyman. for he
can raise on his farm nearly every
thing that is required. II he has to
buy all the grain and roughage at the
present prices. he 10 up against los
ing proposition. He can not AFFORD to
buy when he can grow 1t on the farm
for less. The profits In the dairy bus
iness lie not In the selling price Of
the product only. but in the cheapness
Of production. II you can reduce the
cost. II adds to the profits just the
same a. II you were getting an ad-
vance on the selling price. This
means study at both ends of the busi-
ness. Study to increase the yield and
study to reduce the cost of produc-
! tion. One can be done by breeding
and selection: the. other by care and
feeding. The varieties OF feed that can
be grown on the farm are almost un-
limited. but there are two feeds that
are most necessary. hay and corn.
Cows should have dry roughage Of
some kind and many varieties of grass
es can be grown cheaply In any part
of the country. Corn IL necessary for
silage. Other forage crops may be
substituted for corn in making silage.
but mono have given such satisfactory
results AZ corn for this purpose. No
dairyman can AFFORD to be without a
slio. There il no feed that can equal
good corn siiage for dairy cows: both
for producing results and for econ
omy. It II economical feed. It is al
ways there when you need 1t most.
In summers when pastures are dry:
In winter when frost has withered the
grass; on cold rainy days. when cows
need chelter; on all occasions It Is q
valuable feed and no dairyman can
can AFFORD to be without It. More
\ feed can be produced on an acre of
land when II IL put in the silo than
any other way. Silage IL not only q
cheap feed, but 1t IL heaithful. be-
cause 1t Is succulent. palatable and is
rellshed by all animals. 1t promotes
digestion and aids in the digestion of
other feed. The silo should, in a
manner. take the place of pasture In
summer as well as in winter Cows
In milk should not be required to earn
their living by harvesting their own
feed. II you can bring the feed to the
cows. saving them that labor, they
will contribute larger amount to the
milk pail. The cows should have ex-
ercise enough to maintain health. but
should not be required to spend their
energy and vitality at hard labor. If
she does. you must not expect her to
give an account Of all the feed she
has consumed The dairyman should
say to her: Lie In the shade, my
pretty maid. Let nothing dis
turb your dream; III produce the
feed. all that you need. IL you will
produce butter and cream.
Give the cows comfortable quarters,
lot large enough to permit exercise,