FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 575 



However, it is conservative to state, that au average good cow will 

 cliange three tons of hay and one ton of grain into 300 pounds of buttrr, 

 6,500 pounds of skim-milk, one calf, and six tons of manure during al)ouT 

 eight months. Granting that the skim-milk, the calf, and the manure pays 

 for all the work, the 300 pounds of butter is the pay for the feea. 

 This butter produced during the winter will bring an income of about 

 $90. The three tons of hay and one ton of grain would have to sell at 

 a pretty high price to bring any such income. Twenty dollars for the one 

 ton of grain and $24 for the three tons of hay or a total of $44 are con- 

 sidered to be about what this feed would bring on the market. 



In nearly every instance the man who says that dairying does not 

 pay, is the one who keeps poor producing cows. Even the average run 

 of cows kept for dairy purposes are money makers. 



According to investigations a dairy cow will recover for human food 

 about 25 per cent of the dry digestible matter consumed; a hog about 

 15 per cent; and a steer about 3 per cent. This together with the fact 

 that a good dairy cow will return $2 worth of produce for every $1 

 worth of feed consumed should cause farmers working expensive land 

 and raising expensive feeds to carefully study the various phases of the 

 work of the dairy cow. 



The profits of a dairy cow can be anticipated and realized with a greater 

 degree of surety than in any other one phase of farming. A mature crop 

 of grain and a high price for the same may be anticipated, but seasons 

 and conditions of market may be unfavorable. Feeds for cows, and a 

 good steady market for dairy products are as sure as anything can be in 

 this world of production. 



The returns are also quick. The feed may be fed to the cow and the 

 product realized on, even during the same day. This avoids credit at 

 the store and in the banks. The dairyman is independent and is able to 

 pay his debts as fast as he contracts them. 



TO REPRODUCE. 



The above discussion has been confined to the production only, to 

 the turning of labor and feeds into dairy products and money. Another 

 very important work of the dairy cow is to reproduce. The better the 

 cow the more valuable is this phase of the cow's work. This work of 

 reproduction is largely carried on at the same time that the cow does 

 the remainder of her work. Several cases are on record where one calf 

 sold for $10,000. This may be considered the maximum. The value of 

 a cow's offspring may be said to vary from $5 and up. 



The work of reproduction of a good cow is worth a great deal more 

 than the common value set on a calf. A calf has a certain intrinsic mar- 

 ket value. In addition to this, an individual of large producing strain 

 and of a good family of good type, is a carrier or vehicle of valuable 

 hereditary characteristics. She is a carrier of the combined characteristics 

 of her ancestors. The good dairy cow transmits these to all of her off- 

 spring. This work of transmitting good dairy qualities is one which many 

 dairymen overlook. It is a quality which cannot be seen, which cannot 

 be handled, yet it is the most valuable force in a cow, when a man is 

 trying to improve his herd. 



