Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-09
Managing a Dairy Herd

How shall i manage my dairy herd?
This is question very frequently asked
of the writer. The story generally runs
something like this: Il have plenty of
various kinds of food, good stables, an
abundant supply of pure water and
well-selected herd of either grades or
purebreds. My cows, however, do not
give more than one gallon of milk and it
costs me entirely too much to feed
them. L have considerable sickness in
my herd; sometimes the calves are
weak when dropped, and in other in
stances they are attacked by scours and
fail to thrive" The trouble in this
case is due to the methods of manage
ment accorded the herd and it is sur
prising to find how quickly a discour-
aging situation of this kind can be
changed and improved when better
methods of practice with regard to feed
ing and handling of the animals are
followed.
In the first place, most people do
not realize what a sensitive, high-strung
animal a dairy cow is and how impor-
tant it is that she be made comfortable
and her energy conserved that it may
ne used in the production of milk rather
than dissipated through other channels.
One who would succeed in the dairy
business must first of all learn to
appreciate what the maternal instinct
means and to exercise as much care,
consideration and kindness in dealing
with his individual cows as he would
with the members of his own family.
1t is, first of all, necessary to remove
all disturbing conditions. Get rid of
the noisy, boisterous workmen whose
idea of controlling dumb animals is by
brute strength alone. Keep dogs and
unnecessary idlers out of the barns. See
that the stables are light and we'll ven
tilated; keep the stalls well bedded so
that the COWS will be comfortable when
they lie down, which they will do much
more frequently in a clean. well-bedded
stable than in one where the floors are
hard wet and dirty all the time. Then
an exercise yard should be provided for
winter weather. This should be dry and
well drained so that the animals VIII
not have to wade through mud constant
ly Surface drainage, can generally be
easily effected and the ground will dry
off quickly if a few loads of sand are
drawn up from the creek bottom and
scattered over the surface.
Next, each individual COW should be
given a special stall with such an ar
front as to permit her to have easy ac-
cess to the feed. The manger should
be built of concrete, but if constructed
of wood it should be so arranged that
it can be washed out with SalSoda and
keep in a sweet and wholesome condi-
ton. Dirty. dusty food will not con-
duct to hearty appetite, and unless
the animal eats freely she will not be
a profitable producer. The fastening of
the stall should be so adjusted as to
permit the cow to have the greatest
freedom of movement. There are any
number of fasteners on the market now
which can be purchased and installed
at very low cost.
The next problem is to see that the
food meets the requirements of the ami
NAL giving an abundance of milk. Cows
of course, produce a milk rich in pro-
TEN, the substance which is primarily
concerned in the building of muscles,
nerves and tissues. Hence, it should
be supplied in the food in liberal
amounts. Grains rich in this element
should be selected because in no other
way can an adequate amount of pro-
tein be provided in a palatable form and
with a sufficient degree of concentra-
ton to permit of the consumption of
enough of it to supply the needs of the
appetite and provide for an abundant
milk flow as well. A review of all the
foodstuffs on the market will quickly
convince any one who is familiar with
the needs and requirements of dairy
animals that cottonseed meal will fur
nish the protein in the cheapest form
available to southern dairymen. Long
years of experience show that cows may
be fed almost exclusively on cottonseed
meal and silage for a period of several
years on a stretch and still be kept in
ideal condition while producing a maxi
mum amount of milk and butter at
minimum Of cost Hence, every good
dairyman will certainly use a very con-
siderable amount of cottonseed meal. AS
a matter of fact, he will of necessity
have to make it the basis of the grain
ration he uses. Of course, other amend
ments can be fed with cottonseed meal,
if desirable, such as corn, bran or oats,
but the use of most of these will in
crease the cost of his ration without
improving it materially. 1t is impor-
tant to see that the concentrates fed
are In a wholesome condition, that is,