Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-02
The Cost of Raising a nelfer.

Is it cheaper for a farmer to raise
cows or to buy them? Opinions vary al
to the cost of raising heifer to milk
ing age; it has been reckoned all the
way from $50 to S71. II this Is correct,
1t would be more profitable to buy them
than to raise them, for that amount OF
money would buy good thoroughbred
heifer about ready to produces mllK'
while in the fall very fair grades can
often be bought for from $50 TO s25.
But think that in this reckoning re-
tail town prices must have been charged
for everything consumed and no allow
ance made for what was returned to the
land; also that the calf must have been
fed whole milk for long period. 1t is
possible TO raise calves on cheaper feed
than that. Indeed, prefer other feed,
as do not wish heifer calf to get fat
until she is turned TO pasture. 1t Is
hardly fair not to make allowance TOR
what is returned to the land. Ii man
sells hay he must buy fertilizer, or he is
shrinking his working capital BY just the
amount of plant-foOd sold. 1t costs
more TO raise heifer of the large breeds
than it does of the small, but believe
it pays as we'll to raise either as does any
part of the farm work. Perhaps just
now at the present high price of pork it
would be more profitable to feed the
skim-milk to pigs, but the farmer who
has a good bunch of hejfers ready to
come in milk each fall toi sell or to take
the place of cows that he wishes to dis
pose of, converts the product OF field
and pasture into cash without loss OF
capital.
A fall calf that comes in when two
years old costs much less than spring
calf to raise. The fall calf eats little
hay the first winter. The spring calf
will consume nearly three tons of hay
before she is two years old, the fall calf
not more than half that, as she will run
in pasture two summers. do not know
the experiment station figures for the
fertilizing value of good hay, but have
heard it estimated by various farmers at
close to S. per ton. Hay has been high
in price for the last three years owing to
short crops. Ordinarily speaking, it Is
worth about $40 per ton at the barn.
doubt if it has netted the farmer who
feeds it more than that these three years.
Skim-milk is estimated to be worth ii
cents per 100 ID. to feed to pigs. L DO
not feed my hefers new milk after the
mothers milk gets good, but make
Cruel of small amount OF linseed meal
and add to tue skim milk. A table,
spoonful of meal to quart OF milk is
enough to start on, and feed this three
times day for six weeks.
Milk and meal are gradually increased
until they take from two to three quarts
of milk to a feed aud teacupful OF
meal. They are fed only twice day
when taking this amount and are given
hay to pick at. Pasturage can be had IN
for $3.50, more times for ".
Bedding pays for itself in the manure.
If one cares to reckon the labor at So,
he can do so, but 1t is part OF the
regular chores and takes very little extra
time. do not like to have my heifers
fat when turned out to pasture, as they
always shrink il they are and cease
growing for several weeks. A thrifty,
growing heifer, rather lean, will gain
from the start and come up in the fall
in better shape than the one that was
fat.
Ireckon the cost OF raising a heifer,
after the mauurial value is deducted, at
about $50. A fall heifer will cost at
least S5 less than a spring heifer. or
this, the only money paid is for meal
and a dollars worth Of linseed meal
feeds for a long time; also the next
winters bran to keep them growing is
not expensive; s. will cover this cost.
Nothing sells better than good two
year.old heifer ready to give milk. One
gets his pay for feed and labor expend-
ed, and from $40 to $50 more, according
to the quality of tho animal. A thorough.
bred pays the best, because it sells for
the most; good grades sell we'll, how
ever. II one wishes to increass ones
stock there is the added advantage OF
knowing all about them. Scrubs do not
paw for raising. They cost as much as
any aud sell very low.-H. Leigh Hunt
in Country Gentleman.