16 VERMONT DAIRYMEN'S REPORT. 



THE COW, HER FOOD AND CARE. 



While individual cows of any breed may possess excep- 

 tional merit, yet it seems to be well established that the Jersey 

 and Guernsey stock have a characteristic power of imparting a 

 superior color, grain and flavor to the butter. Their butter-fat 

 globules are larger than those of any other breed, consequently 

 the gravity separation of their cream from the milk is more 

 rapid as well as more thorough, the cream is more quickly 

 churned and the butter of better grain. 



The butter produced by cows well fed and cared for will be 

 of better color, texture and flavor than that from cows other- 

 wise handled. 



Bran, mixed feed and middlings make a smaller fat glo- 

 bule, which not only produces finer grained butter, but does not 

 separate from the milk in the form of cream as readily as the 

 fat from the heavier grains. 



Gluten meal produces softer butter than corn or cotton seed 

 meal, and although it is well adapted for winter feeding, it 

 should not be fed in warm weather, when butter must be firm if 

 it is to be rated as gilt-edged. 



Sour ensilage, musty and mouldy hay, fodder or grain 

 must be carefully avoided, for no amount of subsequent care 

 can counteract their evil effects. 



Feed well ; feed liberally ; give your cows all they will 

 eat ; that is the express purpose for which you keep them. 

 They are only machines for converting rough produce, averag- 

 ing $16 per ton into butter, a concentrated product worth $500 

 per ton. 



DAIRY SANITATION. 



Have regard always for the health and comfort of the ani- 

 mals. Do not let them lie upon a cold, damp floor, nor leave 

 a door or window open with a cold wind blowing upon them. 



Remember that ice water is just as cold in January as it is 

 in July, and that water can be warmed with wood at $3 per cord 

 cheaper than it can with hay and grain at Vermont prices ; $5 

 per cow for the winter would be a low estimate of the value of 

 warmed water over that of ice water. 



Clean, healthy, well fed cows are indispensable to the ac- 

 complishment of our purpose. Gilt edged butter cannot be 

 made from milk produced in close, ill ventilated stables, 

 nor from the milk of ill-fed or diseased cows. The utmost 

 cleanliness must be observed throughout the whole conduct of 

 our business. Let every patron keep his cows and his stables 

 clean. 



