Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-03-29

Made !
PROFITABLE WINTER DAlRvlNe.
By Prof. Hugh q. Van Pelt. Iowa
State Dairy Expert, Waterloo.
in Iowa there are being MIXED
1,500. 900 cows, an average production
Of which is 140 pounds Of butter per
year. To add 100 pounds to this av-
erage would be an easy task. Grant
ing that the average COW is now pay
ing for her feed. this 100 pounds in.
crease, marketed at % cents per
pound, would mean net profit Of s25l
per COW. or $S7,50O, 900 added to the
hank accounts Of Iowa farmers and
dairymen:
Winter dairying, with improved
conditions and better methods, will
aid greatly in accomplishing this de-
sired result. Real business farmers
who weigh and test the milk Of each
Of their COWS, and thereby know
what they are doing, are aware of
the fact that their COWS give more
milk during May and June than. at
amy other time Of the year. There
are five reasons why, namely:
1. The COW Is out on the open pas
ture and has all the fresh air
she can breathe.
2. The sun shines on her all day.
8. The air is warm, from As to 55
degrees F.
4. The water she drinks has the
chill taken from 1t by the warm
rays Of the sun.
5. She is surrounded by am abun-
dance of green food that is sue
culent, palatable, easily digest
ed and contains all Of the diff
ferent nutrients out Of which
milk and butter-fat are made.
Any intelligent farmer can supply
these same conditions In winter. It
| is neither difficult nor expensive to
provide the COW barn with windows
which can be so arranged that they
will admit sunshine, light and fresh
air. During the day sunshine brings
warmth to the barn that can he re-
tanned through the night, and the
Temperature held at from As to 55
degrees F. II the barn is lined with
some cheap material, such as build
ing paper, to eliminate draughts.
The more warm water the COW
drinks when well fed and cared for,
the more milk she will give; while
the more ice-water she drinks, the
less she will give. 1t is cheaper to
heat the water with coal and cobs
than with! high-priced feeds.
Millions Of dollars worth Of corn
stalks are now being wasted in Iowa
By the use Of the silo. much OF this
waste can not only be saved, but q
most useful food provided for the Gov
Throughout the winter The silo is
one OF the most essential adjunctf
to the farm equipment. Corn silage
like grass in May and June, is sue,
cnent, palatable. easily digested anf
nutritious.
All Iowa farmers can grow either
clover, sweet clover or alfalfa. Either
Of these crops properly made into
hay supplies those nutrients which
silage Of corn i'm any form lacks
Therefore, feeding hay made from
either Of these plants. together witt
corn silage. gives the COW access t.
balanced ration.
| 1t being possible to supply May
and June conditions in winter, Their.
are three reasons why farmers shouli
winter dairy:
First-Experienee and experiment
| all demonstrate that a COW freshen
4 Ing in fall, will give from 10 to II
4 per cent more milk throughout tn,
year, than though she freshen ii
the spring. This is due to the fac
that she gives a large flow in wintel
time. and towards spring, when sh'
becomes tired, she is sent to pastur,
and freshens up on her work.
4 Second-It is a well-known fac
that dairy products sell for highe
prices in the winter than in the sum
mer time.
/ Third Winter dairying supple
work in winter and distributes thu
labor over the entire year Profitable
COWS, properly cared for during tn,
winter MONTHS will solve the farm
labor problem. Cows need from fou
to six weeks rest and should receiv,
It during the summer time, whel
heat and flies are severe, the farme,
and his help are busy and the price
Of dairy products low. They should
then come fresh in the fall, 10 the.
will give the flush Of their flow II
i the fall. winter and spring, when til.
prices for dairy products are higl
and when there is time ON the farm
to give them proper care and atten
ton. By SO doing the farmer will BE-
enabled to retain his farm hell
throughout the winter, pay them sal
aries as large OF larger than he cal
afford in the summer time. ant
] when spring work begins he has hi
necessary assistance.
~AeronlA