are used for foundation stock, the herd may be very much improved by raising 

 the heifer calves from these cows, if sired by pure-bred males belonging to 

 one of the dairy breeds. These heifers should be reared on new milk for 

 about three weeks, then be gradually changed to warm, sweet skim-milk. In 

 addition, they should be fed some ground oats and bran mixed in equal parts, 

 green feed in summer, and clover hay and roots in winter. They should be 

 kept in a thrifty, growing condition, but not too fat. They should freshen 

 when about two and one-half years old, and again twelve to fifteen months 

 later. At the end of the second lactation period all heifers which do not give 

 at least 6,000 pounds of miJk, or make 250 pounds of butter, should be dis- 

 posed of, unless in special cases, when a third trial may seem to be ad- 

 visable. 



To find the individual production of the cows, it is necessary to weigh the 

 mi'lk from each cow at stated intervals throughout the year, and also to 

 take samples lor testing with the Babcock test, in order to determine the fat 

 in the milk. The pounds of milk given in any period of time multiplied by the 

 percentage of fat in the milk, plus one-sixth, is approximately the butter 

 produced. 



For example, if a cow produced 30 pounds of milk daily on three con- 

 secutive days in the month of April, the pounds of milk produced for the 

 month would be about 900. If this tested 3.5 per cent, fat., the pounds of 

 milk fat would be 900 x 3.5, divided by 100 equals 31.5 pounds fat ; 31.5 plus 

 1-6 equals 36.75 pounds of butter for the month. The sums of the individual 

 monthly milk and butter production would be the approximate amount of 

 milk and butter produced by each cow during the year. 



Feeding the Cows. 



Where cows have plenty of good grass and are in good condition, no 

 other feed is necessary. Where the pastures are short they should receive 

 green peas and oats, green clover, corn or mangels, or, what is preferable, 

 considering the cost and convenience, a small silo should be filled with good 

 corn for -summer feeding. This silo should not have more than three or 

 four square feet of surface for each cow to be fed. About twenty pounds 

 of corn silage and two to four pounds of bran or chopped oats will maintain 

 the milk flow during a period of short pasture. 



For winter feeding, a daily ration of corn silage (35 pounds), clover hay 

 (8 to 10 pounds), mangels (20 to 30 pounds), bran (4 pounds), oats (3 

 pounds), and oil cake (i to 2 pounds), will produce a satisfactory and econ- 

 omical flow of milk with good cows. If possible, the hay should be cut, 

 the mangels pulped, and both mixed with the corn silage from six to twelve- 

 hours before feeding. The meal should be fed according to the milk flow, 

 using about 8 pounds of the mixture for each 30 pounds (3 gallons) of milk 

 produced, or for each pound of butter in the milk. The careful feeder will 

 soon learn the capacity of each cow for economical milk and butter pro- 

 duction. 



