Part I.] REPORT OF THE DAIRY BUREAU. 125 



In view of danger of future shortage of cows this depart- 

 ment last spring pubHshed a statement and distributed it 

 among farmers, urging them not to sell their stock and to raise 

 all the good heifer calves possible, because the prices of both 

 dairy cattle and milk would steadily increase. We are now 

 officially informed that the world's shortage of cattle is up- 

 wards of 28,000,000 head. On account of the shortage of hired 

 men on dairy farms we have also urged that, whenever possible, 

 milking machines be used on the larger farms, while on the 

 smaller farms women and children unite with the older men to 

 relieve the situation. 



When considering the milk question it should be borne in 

 mind that even at 15 cents a quart milk is one of the cheapest 

 animal foods obtainable; that children cannot thrive well with- 

 out it; that market-milk production is not and never has been 

 over profitable; and that the dairy farmer must realize a profit 

 in order that he may continue in business. The consumer 

 should always remember that he cannot well do without milk, 

 and that the producer can earn his living in some other way; 

 that, food value considered, butter at 60 cents a pound is 

 relatively inexpensive, and that milk, cream, butter and cheese 

 contain growth-promoting factors which either do not exist at 

 all, or exist in far less degree, in their substitutes. At the 

 recent National Dairy Show at Columbus, Ohio, experiments 

 with growing rats were in progress, showing that animals fed 

 on rations containing milk fat thrived, while others fed on 

 rations in which vegetable oils had been substituted were 

 wasting and dying. Yet some food economics teachers are 

 encouraging the use of butter substitutes. Slowly but surely 

 the consuming public is coming to appreciate the real facts 

 concerning the food value of milk and milk products, their 

 vitamines, ready digestibility and general all-round superi- 

 ority. To deprive children or even grown people of an abun- 

 dance of milk, cream, butter and cheese is poor economy, while 

 depriving children of these essentials, especially milk, is near 

 criminal. By substituting milk and milk products for meats in 

 daily rations a material financial saving can be made. 



