Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-10-01
CBy w. MILTON KELLY0

(By w. MILTON KELLY1
Modern dairy farming represents
the highest and most complex type of
specialized animal husbandry, and has
as its basis a safe and sensitive system
OF crop growing.
As producer of good wholesome
food and a conserver of soil fertil-
ity the dairy COW occupies foremost
position among stock we keep on our
farms.
She brings to soil-impoverished, half
farmed lands methods of soiEmanage-
ment and crop-growing that bring more
profit and insure greater improvement
than can come from any other type Of
American farming.
Growing the feed necessary to sup
ply herd of dairy cattle affords the
best example Of crop rotation found
in any type of American farming.
Feeding the soil by growing crops
to feed dairy cows is one way Of eat
ing the cake and having it too.
Farms that support dairy COWS pro-
duce many crops to serve the appetites
of the cows. BY growing variety
of crops We are feeding Variegated
ration to our soil.
Alfalfa, clover aud peas are very
prominent in the best dairy rations,
and are valuable in every crop-rota-
ton. Having the peculiar power Of
appropriating their nitrogen from the
i'm vh nt1 hi Ia 1xy IN f1o off,
phere, they not only furnish the most
nutritious forage and hay for the
cattle, but they feed the soil with the
element.
Following a systematic alienation
of crops and feeding them to the dairy
cattle in connection with small guam
titles Of such by-products as cotton
seed meal, oil meal and gluten meal
(Which are nearly as valuable for fer
tilizers as for feed increases the soil
residues and causes natural improve
ment in productivity.
Accommodating experience of the day
and the history of dairying from it's
early stages show that if properly
conducted it increases soil fertility.
Any man who sets about it intelli-
gently can increase the fertility of
his land beyond it's virgin condition.
Let the straw folders, forage and en-
silage find their way to market
through dairy cows. Feed the soil
with manure to supply humus and
plant food. Grow nitrogen growing
crops to help out the nitrogen prob
lem.
Stable manure and green manure
plowed under will liberate sufficient
potash for succeeding crops.
Phosphoric acid, potash and nitro
gen form the trinity of plant foods
wherever a profitable agriculture is
maintained. Phosphoric acid is def
cient in the generality of soils on dairy
farms.
It is supplied in limited amount in
stable manure, but that source is in
adequate. It may be furnished in the
form Of untreated ground rock or in
acid phosphate. The acid phosphate
will give more certain returns, unless
the SOIL is well supplied with humus.
1OldSu 10 COuldluSu III average SUllO
IN sufficient quantities for many years
crop growing. With phosphoric acid
added, with manure plowed under
to unlock the supply of potash, and
with nitrogen from the atmosphere
supplied through growing legumes, the
farm is gradually increasing in pro-
ductivity.
A highly developed dairy business
must be managed in a careful, system
attic manner. An accurate record must
be kept of each cows milk yield, how
much fat it contains, and how much
feed it requires to produce it.
Feed records are just as essential as
milk and butterfat records. 1t is the
profits we want rather than the phe-
nomenal milk yields that are made by
feeding large quantities Of expensive
concentrates.
This is matter that must receive
cur attention If we place our dairy
herds on a money making basis.
Feeding too heavy concentrated ra-
tons to stimulate milk yields ruins
the capacity of the COWS. What we
want is COWS that have a large capa-
city and cows that can eat large
amounts of our farm grown feeds and
turn them to profit without being fed
large quantities of the expensive con-
centrates.
Finding such cows is more a mat
ter of individuality than of breed.
We must weigh, test and keep a rec
ord of the feed consumed by each
COW. Otherwise We will have a herd
of COWS that are not capable of re-
turning US profit from the feeds we
grow on the farm.
know of herds that have been fed
so much of these concentrates that
it requires from four TO SIX pounds of
protein a day TO maintain suitable |
milk flow. Such cows have lost their |
capacity and cannot possibly make
money for their owner.
The successful dairy farmer must !
raise his own cows. If he has herd |
of Jerseys, Guernseys, Rolsteins or
Ayrshires he should stick close 20 the |
one breed.
A cross-bred COW is a mistake. You I
may ask me if cross-breeding does |
not bring increased vigor. II does, |
but not more than by using bulls from /
unrelated families Of the same breed /
that possess similar qualities and |
types as our own cattle.
Corn Crop in the SiIo.
The feed-cutter should be in use on
every farm, the corn-shredder is an ex-