398 THE dairyman's manual. 



system of producing milk, the methods of caring for it 

 until it reaches the consumers, and of the disposal of it. 

 These three considerations are of the greatest importance 

 and deserve the closest study and most careful practice, 

 because the success of the business depends upon it. 



The cows most desired for this business are the half 

 bred Shorthorns, or grade Holstein-Friesians. Many 

 breeders of fine pure bred Holsteins — which are large 

 milkers and whose milk is excellent for this purpose — de- 

 vote their herds to the production of milk for sale, find- 

 ing a good demand for the calves, which sell at prices 

 which repay the cost of rearing them. Some Ayi*shire 

 breeders do the same with equal profit. But^ as a rule, 

 itis best to attend to one thing at a time in business, and 

 the milk dairyman will find the best cows for his use to 

 be tne grade Shorthorns, Holsteins, or Ayrshires — the 

 first being the best cattle for beef, fattening very easily 

 and rapidly when the yield of milk is falling below a 

 profitable point, which is from eight to ten quarts a day; 

 the second making fair beef, and the third being fairly 

 good beef cattle for local consumption. Each kind is 

 a good milking cow and produces a heav}', well-flavored 

 and dense milk. 



The feeding of cows for this purpose is especially 

 important, because as competition reduces the price of 

 milk to the lowest point, the feeding must be both 

 cheap and productive. A study of the characters and 

 kinds of foods, and the methods of growing the most 

 productive feeding crops, is of great use in this respect, 

 and a reference to preceding chapters in which these 

 subjects are treated will be instructive. The practice of 

 large milk dairymen who have long experience in this 

 business near the city of New York, is given in the fol- 

 lowing description of a milk-barn and business in which 

 200 cows are kept. The farm is located about thirty 

 miles from the city of Xew York and the owner procures 



