Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-11

Methods" held at the Oaklands yester-
day afternoon. under the auspices Of
Gardiner Grange, with Mr.. and Mrs.
r. II. Gardiner as host and hostess
was an occasion long to be remember
ed by all who were present. Never were
the historic and beautiful surroundings
more charming than yesterday.
The lecture was given in the open
under the immense trees surrounding
the farm house A large company Of
eager listeners We're in attendance,
among whom were many men heavily
interested in dairying. Nearly as many
women as men were present
The principal lecture was given by
Prof. Percy A. Campbell, professor of
animal industry of the College of Agri-
culture of the University Of Maine.
Prof. Campbell held the attention of
the audience remarkably for an out-of-
door gathering He is an easy speak
er and handles his subject so as to be
understood.
Following Prof Campbell, ]. r. Dyce,
also of the College of Agriculture,
spoke on Cleanliness AS An Asset In
Dairying."
When the lectures were finished the
entire company was invited to enjoy
the liberty of the spacious grounds and
gardens of the place, being especially
urged to gather upon the lawn at the
mansion. Here delicious refreshments
were served, after which Master Dan
forth Of the Gardiner Grange called
upon several for brief remarks. The
company separated, thoroughly enjoy
ino tho occasion
Below is brief of the lecture of
Prof. Campbell
If we are going to succeed in the
dairy and cattle business we must pay
attention to two things, namely the
breeding of our cattle and their feed
ing. The best bred cattle are value
less as economic producers unless prop
erly fed-on the other hand lot of
scrubs are fed that do not pay for
the food consumed. let alone return
ing profit. 1t is not my intention,
however. to discuss the breeding today
but rather the feeding.
/ will endeavor to take it un under
three headings, feeding the calf feed
ing the dry COW and feeding for milk
production. The methods that | shall
advise are the ones that we are using
al the college farm. with good results.
believe it is useless for man to do
business without knowing exactly
what he is doing. A storekeeper that
sold his goods to his customers and
depended on the customers to remem
Der the amount and pay for the goods
as each saw fit. would soon make a
failure. The dairynian is often doing
just that thing-he is feeding his cows
and taking what returns the cow gives,
without knowing whether she returns
a profit or loss. l am afraid that too
many of us are doing just that sort of
a thing. 1t only uses up little time
| to weigh and record each milking.
Have the scales and record sheet hung
close together and you will be surprised
| to see how quickly you can do 1t. Then
at the end of the month you know eX-
actly what your COW has done. Test
the milk once through the month at
least-using a composite samrle-then
you know approximately the pounds
of butter-fat she has produced and if
the record has been kept faithfully
throughout the year you know what
the returns from each cow is. I know
that some will say that they know
which are their good cows, and poor
cows without doing this extra work;
perhaps they do, but do you believe
that the members of one of our COW
test associations. owning. some three
hundred cows, knew that there We're
sixty-five cows among that number
that were returning no profit at all"
Or do you suppose that any one OF
L, 4
among that number that would make
a loss of twenty-nine dollars? 1t is
necessary then for each OF US to weigh
and test the milk and to keep an ap-
proximate account of the feed con-
sumed in order to weed out the un-
profitable cows.
The question is often asked, if I get
rid of these improbable cows, how are
they to be replaced. 1t is Impossible
to buy them. That is true. but know
| ing the record of each COW it is easy
to select those cows which you wish
to be the dams of your future herd =,
and to raise up some to take the places
of the boarders.
| In raising calves select those that
are strong and thrifty. that have boon
well nourished during the foetai life.
1t is our practice to let the calf sta,
with its dam for day and half or
two days, however. The only requisite
is that the calf receive the cows first
milk, natural laxative provided by
nature. When the calf is separated
from its dam it is put out of her hear
ing, and there is seldom any difficulty
with either the calf or COW. The calf
is Taught to drink milk from a pail
The milk Is fed warm as it comes from
the COW and for the first few days It
Is desirable to feed three times day
Only a small amount is fed at time,
and as the calf grows it is gradually
increased. When the calf Is ten days
or two weeks old a change is gradually
made from whole milk to skim milk
several days being used to make the
change. A spoonful Of blood -four is
| added to each feed from the first as a
preventative of scars. Also the pals
| that the calf is fed in are washed and
scalded thoroughly after each feeding.
They are fed regular and the milk al
| ways of the same temperature, thus