Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-08-15
Selling Cows?

At this time of the year many per-
/ sons are beginning to plan on the
number of cows which they intend 70
winter It Is surprising to ind that
/ a large number of farmers are talk
/ ing seriously of selling a part of
their cows so as to reduce both the
amount of labor required IN caring
for them and also the amount of feed
consumed. If majority OF the
farmers of this county adopt such
policy, it viii develop into a serious
situation. This is prominently
dairy county. A few cash crops are
raised. but, by far the largest per
cent of the income received by the
farmers IS for dairy products. This
means that the size of the business
conducted by the average farmer OF
this county is figured In the number
of cows which he keeps. Reduce the
number of cows and you reduce the
size of business and as surely as
night follows day, decreased farm in
come and decreased labor income viii
result A farmer viii do well TO con-
slider the situation seriously before
ne dispOses Of a part of his business
that fropa which, by far the great
est part of his income is derived
The help question is advanced as
one of the principal reasons for re-
ducing the number of cows. A man
without help can do only a certain
amount but his business should be
organized so that he can accomplish
the maximum amount with the labor
at his disposal. The milking machine
is solving the help problem to
large degree on great many farms
and Is proving itself both practical
and indispensable In a large dairy
it will save the work Of one or two
men IN the winter. The cows are
MIXED regularly with proper atten-
ton and produce as much milk as by
hand milking. This IS one OF the
big labor-saving devices whereby. one
man may use his time most efficient
". Help indeed is scarce and any
man is justified in reducing his bust
ness so that he can care for 1t prop
erly provided he uses his time eff
GENTLY.
The number Of cows per capita in
the world has been greatly reduced
since the opening of the world war
three years ago. More than 80 per
cent of the livestock In Europe has
already been slaughtered, while the
livestock of this country has been de-
creasing This, on the face of 1t,
means a tremendous shortage both
in dairy and beef cattle and any
of dairy cows, curtails the amount OF
dairy products. Supply, as well as
demand, governs prices and one
prominent official in Delaware has
made the statement that If farmers
Of that section continue to sell their
cows at the present rate, milk VIII
sell from % TO % cents per quart an
other winter
Calves, also, are being sold IN some
parts of the county IN too large num-
bers. The heifer calves from the
best cows should be saved to build up
the herd With the present shortage
of meat, the other calves should be
fed until they attain some size.
Farmers IN one community have been
selling young calves because IL cents
per pound looked like big price and
the same farmers have been throwing
away their skim milk because they
had no livestock to use all Of it, This
IS far from profitable farm business
it Is too easy 70 see the few cents
IN the hand at the present time rath-
er than the dollars that may be
gained IN the future
As has been stated previously, this
IS q dairy county. This year. ike last
year, a tremendous hay crop i being
harvested With the number OF cows
depleted what viii become Of the hay
and forage crops? Market hay. IN
view Of the present crop, viii bring
but little and anything but No. l
grade Is hardly worth shipping 70
market anyway. Livestock must con-
sumo this hay TO make food for hu-
man consumption and there Is no
cheaper food available. If livestock
Is sold IN any amount, what viii be- /
come OF the hay surplus? This prob /
lem should be considered from every +
viewpoint
A substitute for cement used In some