116 MAKING A DAIRY FARM PAY 



a highly profitable state by the fertilizer returned by the 

 cattle. 



The selection of feeds is of prime importance in the 

 profitable management of a herd of dairy cows, and, next 

 to the selection of cows of the proper type and breeding, 

 is the factor of greatest importance in profitable dairying. 

 Feed cows daily one pound of grain for every three 

 pounds of milk produced ; from 25 to 40 pounds of corn 

 silage, and what clover or alfalfa hay they will eat. 



Do not turn cows out to remain and suffer in cold, 

 stormy weather. Allow them to have water which is not 

 colder than that from a deep well twice or three times 

 daily. It is a good plan to heat their drinking water in 

 the tanks or troughs. Brush cows daily if you can pos- 

 sibly find the time, for it pays better than does grooming 

 of horses. Keep cows in clean, well lighted, properly 

 ventilated stables. 



Do not try to save feed by turning to pasture too early. 

 Provide plenty of pure, fresh water, shade and protection 

 against flies during the heat of summer. Supplement 

 poor pastures with corn silage or green soiling crops like 

 rye, peas and oats, green corn fodder, cabbage and other 

 available feed. 



Treat cows gently and avoid excitement. Be regular 

 in time of feeding and milking. Weigh the milk of each 

 cow at milking time. 



Get your neighbors to share with you in owning a Bab- 

 cock milk tester, and test the milk of each individual 

 cow. Discard the cow which has failed at the end of 

 the year to pay market price for all the feed she has 

 consumed. 



Breed your cows to a pure-bred registered dairy bull, 

 and raise well the heifer calves from the best cows. 

 Breed heifers to drop their first calves at 24 to 30 months 

 of age. Give cows six to eight weeks' rest between lacta- 

 tion periods. 



