32 



MILCH COWS AND MILCH HEIFERS. 



The Committee on Milch Cows and Milch Heifers having 

 attended to the duty assigned them, submit the following 

 report : 



Of all animals that conduce to the happiness of man, the 

 cow deservedly ranks among the first. When we consider 

 how much she adds to our comforts, how dependent we are 

 upon her for many of the luxuries of life, we can but won- 

 der that so little attention is given to the improvement of 

 her species by a large portion of our farmers. 



it is frequently the farmer's ambition to keep a large 

 number of cows, without especial regard to their quality. 

 This we believe is a great mistake. The care and keeping 

 of a good cow usually costs no more than one of an inferior 

 quality ; while the income of the former may be double that 

 of the latter. The great disparity observed in the profits of 

 different cows, we believe is frequently owing quite as nnich 

 to a difference in treatment as it is to blood. Not that we 

 would be understood as speaking disparagingly of theefi^orts 

 of those who have sought to improve our native cow by a 

 cross with imported slock. While we acknowledge that 

 great improvement has been made in that particular, we 

 also n'gard a proper treatment of the cow of vital impor- 

 tance in imparting good milking properties. 



It is usually the case w lie re a family possesses but one 

 cow, that she is considered above the average of cows' in 

 point of excellence. Now why is it so? Is she not in most 

 cases taken from the farm from a lot of cows, where the 

 seller is generally shrewd enough to retain the best and 

 part or)ly with those heconsiiers below an average? To 

 us the reason is obvious. The seller sold (he ordir»ary cow, 

 but he did not sell her future keepir)g. Usually a great 

 change is produced in the quality of the cow by better care 

 and treatment. She is transferred to a warm stall, furnished 

 with good bedding; in short, is considered a kind of a pet 

 by their family, where every one has a kind word and a 



