Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-20
Agricultural Department
Conducted by C. W. gricuiturai Teacher
in Bedding High School

sum Of the months totals will give
the yearly production ofeach cow.
AS great a surprise awaists the
owner who first tests his COWS as
when he first weighs their milk
Whatever the breed a difference Of
two per cent will be found between
the highest and lowest testing cows
Official yearly records of pure-bred
cows show that the highest testing
COW of each breed gives milk about
twice as rich in butter fat as the low
est testing cow of the same breed
While in herd of grade cows no
such wide variation can be expected,
still surprises are always in store for
those who first test their cows.
The years yield of milk ar fat is
not the final factor in determining
which is the most profitable cow.
Some cows eat nearly twice as much
as others. AS a general rule a cow
consumes food in proportion to her
size, but great variations will be not
ed in individual cows. Having deter
mined the best cows, the right foun-
dation is made for developing a herd.
But all cows have their off years in
milk production, and allowance for a
COW in her off year must be made
The per cent of fat in cows milk is
however a very stable quantity and
little variation will be found from
year to year.
Buying a Bull
The statement so often made: "The
bull is half the herd" falls far short
of the truth The whole future sue
cess of the business depends on the
bull. By far the best bull to buy is
an old bull that has proven his abil-
ity TO sire good cows in some other
herd. AS a general rule a bull if
well cared for should be good for
service until he is ten years old, and
many bulls have been good sires up
to twenty years old.
The next best way to get good
bull is to get one whose Maternal an
cestors for many generations have
made good yearly butter fat records.
The right bull crossed on the select
ed cows should work marked improve
ment at once and his two-year-old
heifers should with their first calves
produce nearly as much as their moth
ere did at maturity.
The largest yearly production from
cows properly cared for, can be OBJ
tanned from cows that calve in Octo-
Der and November, and the best cal
yes to raise are those born at that
time Of the year.
Raising the Calves
Keep the choicest hay always with
in reach.
At two to four weeks old change
gradually from new milk to skim
milk, fed if possible, direct from the
cream separator while still warm with
the animal heat. Scrupulous clean
illness of stalls, hangers and feed
pals is the price Of success in calf
raising.
Increase the calf's ration of bran
and oats up to the time it will eat
three or four pounds day. Until
|, the calf is eight to ten months old
the whole oats are better for them
than ground, but as soon as they be-
gin to pass through the calves stom-
ach whole, feed them ground.
Feed the calf skim milk as long as
it can be spared, even up to two yearc
old. In any case feed it milk at least
twice a day up to the. time it can be
turned to grass late the next spring.
Even il turned to grass continue
the grain ration, and II milk is fed,
the calf will make wonderful growth,
but in this case keep the calf fatten-
cd up in the stanchions, or tied with
a halter, until the mouth. and nose
are dry, SO it will not suck its COM
panions.
The early care of the calf and the
care up to two yearc of age are very
Important as the start the young COW
gets in this period determine pretty
largely the quality of cow at ma
4, turity.