The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-09-15
TO PRODUCE CHEAP MILK

Prof. A. L. Hacker is a strong advo-
cate for the special dairy COW, but
realizing the special dairy COW is far
in the future, for the large majority
of farmers, he has concluded that the
common or $40 COW is not such
poor dairy COW as the farmer is a
poor dairyman. He thinks the $40
COW is the outgrowth of conditions
that prevail upon the average farm,
and it is a question whether she is
not a better COW for the average
farmer.
Professor Hacker says if the com
mon cow were to be replaced by the
special dairy COW, one-half the number
of COWS would return the same prod
uct with an expenditure of practically
one-half the feed for maintenance, one
half the stable accommodations, one
half the pasturage, and one-half the
labor in caring for them, as the aver
age special dairy COW is capable of
producing 300 pounds of butter COM
pared with the $50 pounds returned
by this $40 cow. This would be pos
sible only under proper conditions of
feeding, stabling, and care. The best
COW in the world will do no better
than the poor COW unless the proper
working conditions are provided.
In his judgment it is only necessary
to give the common cow proper care
and feed to learn that instead of
being the 150-pound COW she may be
made 250-pound COW. This proves
conclusively that she is a far better
COW than the average man is a dairy
man. In every instance, where she
has been given an opportunity to
demonstrate her ability, she has con-
clusively proved this fact. Improve
ment must begin with the owner of
this common cow. Success in any
business comes through complete
knowledge of that business, and the
average dairyman does not know even
the rudiments of the breeding and
feeding of COWS.
The COW is the first and most i'm
portant channel for milk-production.
1t may be said that it is not necessary
to keep such COWS, and of course 1t
is not, but we must remember that
twO-thirds of the COWS of the country
are of the 125-pound butter fat per
year kind and so long as this is true,
JuGI0 Is uSSu III lC
feeding of the COW is neglected fully
as much as the kind of COW and in
nine cases out of ten, the COW is
underfed and not supplied the food
necessary for her greatest profit
Good feeding means supplying the ami
nal with required nutriment at the
least possible cost. The roughage is or
the most importance and should be
produced on the farm. Silage, alfalfa,
clover and roots should be the princi-
pal crops of this kind and the manure
from the yard will insure large yields.
The silo he considers of the greatest
Importance in reducing the feed bill
and this forage with alfalfa hay should
make up at least two-thirds of the
bulk feed given. For grain and mill
stuff, the price should determine what
feeds to choose and here knowledge
of stock feeding is required. In gen
eral, corn, bran and oilmeal will be
found of the best and cheapest. The
grain should be given in amounts con-
Sistent with the animals ability to
handle the food. In general, it can
be said that they should have what
they will eat up clean and not gain
in body weight. A dairy COW should
not be fattened, although she should
he kent in good condition.