390 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



SUMMER MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY HERD. 



BY PKOF. F. S. COOLEY, PROFESSOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND 

 DAIRYING, MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The severe early summer drought of the present season 

 has served to em[)hasize the need of a better average among 

 our d'Airy cows. It is apparent that some improvement has- 

 been made over the stock of half a century ago for dairy 

 inir})oses, but it is doubtful if the quality has improved as 

 fast as its need. It must be borne in mind that the world is 

 moving, and that to stand still is ruin. Competition is 

 strong, and the cost of production is on the increase. If 

 the value of the product does not increase with the cost of 

 production, then dairying ceases to be profitable. 



Probably the average cow in Massachusetts yields about 

 2,000 quarts of milk, or 200 pounds of butter, worth from 

 $50 to 160 at present prices. With feeds costing what they 

 have for the past two seasons, this leaves little if any margin 

 of profit ; and where cows fall below this average, as half of 

 them do, there must be very little compensation for the time 

 expended by farmers in their care. Certainly the prevailing 

 hiijh waoes otter strong inducements to sell the cows and 

 enter other pursuits for a cash compensation. 



The hope for dairy salvation lies in keeping a better class 

 of cows. Where the average product is now 200 pounds of 

 butter, or 2,000 quarts of milk, it should be 300 to 400 

 pounds, or 3,000 to 4,000 quarts. The feasibility of secur- 

 ing these higher yields has been amply demonstrated by 

 many carefully kept records. Compare the value of the an- 

 nual product of a dairy of 15 cows of average quality, which 

 would amount to from $750 to $900, Avith the possible $1,400 

 to $1,800 from the same number of a better grade. Does 

 any one believe that, after paying for the extra feed and care. 



