The Ordway new era., 1917-06-22
Dairy Farming
and Its Benefits
Continued from last week.
SPECIAL ADAPTATION

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Within the general class of dairy
cattle one can find great variety and
can tn orefore select breeds or fami-
lies well adapted to the special needs
in view. Some dairy cattle are noted
for the quantity of milk they produce
others for the high quality or rich
ness of their milk, which means they
are good for butter producers. Some
combine quantity and quality in
specially economical way, under some
circumstances. There are cows of ac-
tive habits, which forage well on
wide range of scanty pasture, and
will profitably work up the coarser
kinds of food in winter. There are
others which have proved their Ca
pacity for making good returns
when more closely confined and sub
jected to high feeding Some cows
give out great flow of milk for
comparative short season, and others
are noted for an even. steady yield
of milk the year thru. The dairyInan
can easily find cattle, therefore
adapted to his particular wants. As
a rule, the difference dairy charac-
teristics named pertain to different
breeds, so that every dairymar is
likely to find some one breed Of
than any other.
This is not the place to revive the
never-ended battle of the breeds. -
No matter how strong ones convic-
tions, discretion must be exercised
Pronounced opinions and direct ad-
vice as to the several recognized dairy
breeds are here unnecessary. Evi
dence abounds on every side, and
every dairyman, or prospective dairy
man, can satisfy himself as to the
make proper study of the subject
He need not go far In this country to
find the best kind or breed of COWS
for milk supply, the best for butter
making. or the best for the cream
trade. There is no special cheese
making COW; the best butter COW is
also the best for cheese; this fact
has been demonstrated beyond dis
pute.
FORMATION OF DAIRY HERD
There are two very different ways
Of forming a dairy herd and of main
tanning its size and quality. 1t may
be done by buying or breeding, and
these two methods may be combined.
BY Purchase - The purchasing
plan is practiced to considerable
extent by those who produce milk for
twon and city supply. In few cases
it has been known to be successful
where the work of the herd was to
make butter. Applied in its extreme
form. cows are bought when mature
and at their prime, judged almost
exclusively by their milk yield. are
highly fed so as to keep steadily
gaining in flesh. and are sold, usually
to the butcher, as soon as they cease
to be profitable as mixers. The bull
may be of any kind so long as he
gets the cows in calf, as the calves
are Of value only as causing "fresh"
cows and are disposed of as soon as
possible. The first modification of
this system is to keep extra good
cows for several seasons and the next
to raise heifers from some of the best
mixers to replenish the herd. This
way of making up a herd and keep
ing good its numbers requires abund-
ant capital and rare Judgment in
buying and selling. 1t can not be
recommended to one lacking expert
ence, and even the schrewdest buyer
runs a great risk of bringing disease
into his herd.
! BY Breeding-The other extreme
is to begin with a few well-selected
animals as a foundation, and gradu
ally build up the herd to the size de-
sired nv iudicious breeding and ma
tural increase. This method takes
time, and time which may be mony,
but it is far the safer and more salts
factory in its results, and it must be
recognized as higher grade of dairy
farming.
(1'o be continued next week.