The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-03-03
THOROIGHBREDS PAY BEST.


Another problem of great importance
to the dairyman is how to increase the
production of his cows quickly, and at
the least expense The authorities all
advise better cows, but they do not
| show the figures whereby we can com.
pare the only two methods. namely,
breeding up by the use of good herd
bul lis or by purchasing new stock out
right.
MY Investigations convince me that if
herd is no better than the average, il
is more profitable to dispose of it and
start afresh with new stock. Even il
grade herd il somewhat better than
the average, it will still pay in most
cases tn dispose of it, for the reason
that no grade herd can ever he made 10
good ~ pure bred herd with the
same attention. Also a grade herd il
more in need of really good bull,
which necessarily means II more ex.
pensive one, than pure bred herd,
since its production must be increased
very rapidly. without loss of valuable
| time.
Now let us compare the two methods,
taking first grade herd of average
production. 10 cows of 1000 lbs. milk
A.. $50 lbs. fat. 1t will take four
generations, IL years time. to raise this
production to 5000 lbs 81 milk, $50
lbs. fat. Estimating throughout fat at
20 cents per Id, skim milk at 25 cents
per hundred, veals at So Il head and sale
prices of cows from $40 to $40 apiece,
| (for we must sell off each generation to
make room for the next, we have the
following gross income.
Bv fat, Sli OFT: skim milk, 81, ST.. 95;
stock sales, So. go 90: total, $40. IT'S. 90.
Cost Of feed, estimating that of cows
from $40 to so, according to production.
helfers $40 and calves $25, will be
$ll, Olb 90 leaving net income of
81. l63 SO for the whole Ia years.
Taking exactly the same conditions
and values ~ above. but applying them
to pure bred herd of 10 cows of $500
lbs.. 81 = milk, 357 lbs. fat; our gross
income becomes. by fat, $40. 1914. ~:
skim milk, $3.50. %; stock sales,
81. 400: total, $26, l74.54. Cost of feed
$l3, 200. leaving II net income of
$l2. ga 81. u gain Of $3.50. 81 over the
breeding up method.
In making these calculations | have
purposely omitted to allow for an in
crease in production Of the pure bred
herd. which should he obtained Just M
surely M in the grade herd. only in less
degree. 1t would not be unreasonable to
expect to reach an average of 1900 lbs
81 q milk, 400 lbs. fat, which would
increase the net income by $ll 81 per
COW per annum. Also, | have been
careful to give maximum results for
the bred up herd and minimum results
for the pure breds, 80 that the differ
ence could he much greater.
IL this difference of not less than
SiSOO worth considering? IL it not
worth striving for? II no, why do not
more dnirymen adopt this plan, especial.
ly after It is proved that It should in.
crease their income by nearly $500 II
year over the usual plan of breeding up?
The answer is that they are already
burdened by existing debts and their
credit IL impaired 40 that they cannot
borrow; or. having credit, they are too
cautious to 30 into debt while they are
uncOnVlnced that il IL to their advantage
to do 80
But that is not the right way of re.
gArdng the issue If we are to increase
the value of our farm lands, it can only
be done by dalrying or stock breeding
in some form. This country il par
tlcularly well adapted to such business
and only through such methods can We
develop our resources and increase the
taxable basis. which means lowering the
tax rate. adding to our material benefits
and increasing our bank deposits, thus
creating prosperous community out
OF whit Is now n comparatively poor
one.
In the west. the banks are offering
credit to the farmers and even buying
cows for them. taking payment in in.
stnlmrnts What in needed here IL II
similar system. 40 that dairyman may
invest in II new herd and pay for it out
of his increased earnings. without call
ing for additional capital or credit II
such mn opportunity were offered you.
would you accept III The offer il made
elsewhere IN this paper.
II. J ,JEwETT,
Darlington, Md.