DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8971, 11 August 1905, Page 2

DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

SOME ADVICE ON FEEDING AND GENERAL CARE OF MILCH COWS.

Ia making milk at a low cost, three factors' are essential, namely, good co\V6, good feed, and a good feeder. An investigation recently made by a prominent dairyman revealed the fact that out of 100 herds of cows thirty-five were producing milk which sold for less than the cost of the feed. One case is reported where milk which cost one dollar to produce sold ■for forty cents. On the other hand there were four herds found- where the income was from 2.11 dollars to 2.30 dollars for every dollar expended in feed

The above presents two sides of the dairy question, and we believe it will require but little (search to find ca6cs as ex-, treme as those given. The reason why some ore not deceiving as much for their milk as the food o,f the animal would have Bold for, might be due to ecveral causes. Some cows are poor milkers, and would ■not give a profit no matter how well or how- economically they had been- fed. Such animals should be converted into beef without delay, in order that the owner may take advantage of the present prices of meat. But the chief reason why the average dairy herd is not more profitable may be traced to improper feeding. .While pastures are good cows may give satisfactory returns,^ but taking it one year with another, there is only a short period each year whon pastures may be relied on entirely to furnish enough feed. Those who make no pretence at feeding grain while cows have access to pasture, should bear in mind that a dairy cow is a rervou6 and somewhat sensitive animal. If she ia left out during the intenee hot weather of July and August without having access to any shade whatever, it cannot be expected, no matter how good her pasture may be, that she will give profitable returns. An animal, to give a satisfactory flow of milk, must be. kept comfortable. It. may add considerably to the yield in the warm weather, if there are no available trees, to allow cows to run in the stables and sheds. So much the better if these can be darkened during

part of each day, so that the animals may remain undisturbed from flies.

As pastures begin to dry up during the latter part of summer, the matter of feeding some supplementary food is of the utmost importance, if profitable returns are expected. Cows running on bare pastures are obliged to use up too much energy in searching for their focd. A little * forethought by way of providing green fodder, will be found to come in well at- this time, but if this provision has not been made, it might prove- profitable to feed a little grain. A few pounds of corn meal and bran fed during the period when pastures are dry, will _ffcrd a good profit on its cost. Tha fact must never be Tost sight of, that co much food is necessary to sustain the dairy animal, and that the profits come from the food that is fed over and above this amount. Although grain and foo<te cf a!l kinds are high at the present time, yet there is no question but what, at the present prices of dairy products, cows may be made to pay a good profit. — Ottawa Valley .Ta;rnal.