328 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



and will do much Letter if they are fed a few roots, especially 

 when first put on dry feed. The next summer give good 

 pasture, put in the barn in good season in the fall and begin 

 at once to give about two pounds of grain per day until they 

 produce calves at two years old. A heifer so raised at present 

 prices of feed would cost $50. 



" Will it pay to raise them so ? They will be twice as large as 

 the heifer you can raise to two years old for $25, and will 

 give twice as much milk the first season. If you are so situated 

 as to have plenty of skim milk and will provide extra fine hay 

 and an abundance of roots, the cost for grain may be materially 

 reduced. 



" During the past three years I have sold my youngest stock 

 off closely and have had but six heifers of my own raising come 

 in milk. They have been raised as described above and have 

 milked with first calf as follows: Lunde Burke in 10 months 

 gave 7,130^ pounds, was sick just before going to grass and did 

 not do as well afterwards. Clothilde Artis Raphaella 2d, gave 

 8,42 14^ pounds in 10 months, was milked three times a day for 

 about six weeks. Bag Apple Abbekerk Burke, nearly three years 

 old, 10,500 pounds in 10 months; Valley Farm Netherland, 

 8,412.5 pounds in 10 months; Jannek Bright De Kol, 8,05.",. 

 pounds in 10 months; Valley Farm Pauline De Kol, 7,988.95 

 pounds in 10 months, the last two milked three times a day for 

 an official butter test, an average for the five two-year-olds of 

 8,192 pounds for 10 months' milking. Does not the larger 

 production of first season pay for the extra cost of raising 

 the calf well? Another purpose almost as important has been 

 accomplished: The owner is proud of such heifers, is pleased to 

 show them to any one who may visit the stable and to tell of their 

 yields. 



" After the two important steps of selection and raising to the 

 age of production, comes the economical maintenance of a pro- 

 ducing dairy. The feed for our cows has been about as fol- 

 lows: Ensilage once a day and hay twice. Fresh cows received 

 about 10 pounds of grain a day, which is continued with the 

 winter milkers until the milk shrinks considerably or the cows 

 show gain in flesh. During flush of feed but little grain is given. 

 Gradually increased as pastures become dry and short. Sows d 

 corn is fed during fall and until cows are turned into afterfeed. 

 The grain has been mixed mostly two parts sprouts or bran 



