Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-05-30
Building Up the Ideal Herd.
DON'T KEEP BoARDER COWS, BUT BREED
INTELLIGENTLY.
George L. Gleason. in New England Home
steady

George L. Gleason. in New England Home
The cow-testing associations In al
parts of our country are revealing som,
startling facts. One is that all the prof
OF most herds is made by one-half of tht
cows; and, in many instances, by one
third or less. The others merely pay
for their feed and care, or are bill oi
expense. We see estimates every now
and then in The Homestead of the cost
of making milk. Some say 8 cents. q
quart, others az high az 6 cents. But ]
heard one OF the best dairymen In oul
county say within three years that he
was making milk at q cost of cents q
quart. Now why this diffsrencep
Several factors enter into the cost OF
making milk. The largest is the COWS.
II one-half the cows in New England are
q bill Of expense, and the test comes
near proving this, does not this account
in part for the high cost Of production?
and should the consumer pay for this
loss? When the manufacturer finds that
he is losing money on machine, 1t goes
into the scrap heap, and he gets one, that
pays. II farmer has COW that he 10
keeping ut loss, or that merely pays
her keep, why should she not goP We
bought such COW some years ago. She
did not meet our expectations. We
reasoned after this manner. She will
not pay more than for her feed and care
until she freshens again. Then she will
be cheap COW. If We buy a good milk
or to take her place, she will more than
pay the difference in cost before she
freshens, and then we will have profit
able COW. The result has proved the
wisdom of that decision.
The time will come, IL IL has not al
ready, when the production of milk
should be curtailed In New England.
Should the unproductive cows be elm
mated this wonld be an advantage to tho
farmer as we'll as dealer and consumer.
The producer could then market his hay
or raise stock or sheep. Business men
are stopping the leaks. Why should not
the farmers?
This prepares the way for what have
to say on our topic: How to build up
an ideal herd. Here word is In order
10 those just starting in the cow busi-
ness. First, have some definite plan. Be
} man Of vision. Know thoroughly just
what you want to do. In some condi.
lions you will want to make milk, in
others cream, or possibly butter or
cheese will be more profitable. You
will need to start the herd adapted to
The product you have In mind. Then
again, if your means are limited, you
cannot begin with blooded stock. Grades
will do, provided you are wise In your
selection. If inexperienced, you will
need the counsel of the man who knows
how to buy. If You start right, your
herd can be improved by the service of
! sire of the strain adapted to the branch
,f dairyipg which you have adopted.
Eventually you will wish to produce
pure breds.
A milk producer, who has been milk
ng only grades, told me the other day,
hat he was going to buy this year two
aolstein heifers of the best strain he
could procure. By using the best sire
n few years be will have . herd of
,ure-blood Holsteins. know of several
armers who have become independent
" pursuing this method. They not
,nly have herd, every one OF which Is
producer. but they have put their stock
IN the market.
CARE IS IMPORTANT FACTOR
Another consideration that enters In
o the production of the ideal dairy is
he feed and care. This demands study
md prolonged experience. heard .
,ow dealer say some years ago that he
ct one young farmer, whose name he
have cows on trial AZ long as
10 wished. he added, "if any man can
ret milk out of COW, he can do It."
About a. much depends upon the man
ls the COW, or, should We not say, more
depends upon the man than the COW.
Jp to 60 years ago there was little
arm literature. There were no gather
ngs of farmers to discuss the best meth
IDS of producing crops and life on the
arm was dull and looked upon as drudg-
'ry. The fertility OF the soil was grad
lally exhausted in the east, and the am
,itious boys went to the cities or the fer
lie plains of the west. Now conditions
ire entirely changed. As much thought,
tudy and enterprise are put into farm
ng az any other industry. The farmer
,as as many helps a. those engaged In
my other industry. There is quite as
much to call forth his energies and in
pire his ambition "a to those engaged
o any other calling. The expert farmer
8 on the way to fortune. The demand
or leadership in the various depart
nents of agriculture Is far greater than
he supply. Therefore, the dairyman
must be student, thinker, and above
III, door. He must know the proper |
les of feeds and the needs Of each COW
q his herd. He must be book farmer
q we'll % practical tiller of the soil. He
hould read the standard books In bis
inc of products. The agricultural bull |
etins should be studied, especially
be farm papers be read. /
Then there must be application and
This really 10 the most
essential element of success. We oil
make mistakes and failures. The wise
nan learns and profits from all these. |
ais defeats make him careful to avoid |
he causes and stronger for future con-
Iuests. This year our cows are more
profitable than ever. z
Feeding Young Pigs.
4. s>.l sho ,ounc MIR a. n. oh