CHAPTER XX 

 HOW CAN I GET THE MOST FROM THE COWS I HAVE? 



The immediate problem which confronts many, probably 

 most, American farmers to-day is not so much what breed or 

 strain of cows would be most profitable to keep if they could 

 have what they want, but rather how to get the greatest returns 

 from what they now have. All realize that a few cows are 

 outstandingly valuable and that there is a small horde of lesser 

 power that are very good, but the number of high-producing 

 cows is altogether too small to furnish each farmer with a herd 

 or even with one specimen, and that for some time the bulk of 

 the dairy work of this country must of necessity be done by 

 grades only moderately well suited to their tasks. 



Common cows have repeatedly shown themselves capable of 

 producing much more and more economically than is generally 

 realized, even 50 to 100 pounds of fat per year. To secure such 

 results, however, the " common " cow must be accorded " pure 

 bred " care, i.e., she must be fed and treated right. In general, 

 farmers should keep the cattle they now have, and build up. 

 The following are the chief points in getting what we can out 

 of the cows we now have : 



1. Fall fresh to produce more milk. See Chapter XIX. 



2. Comfortably housed to save feed. See Chapter XXI. 



3. Succulent feed, silage, to encourage liberal eating. See 

 Chapter XXIII. 



4. Feeding liberally so cow can have something to work on. 

 See Chapter XXIII. 



5. Fair amount of grain so cows may be able to consume more 

 nutriment. See Chapter XXIII. 



6. Balance of nutrients, so the body and the milk may be 

 adequately fed. See Chapter XXIII. 



7. Treated with kindness so she will be willing and glad to 

 let down the milk. See Chapter XIX. 



12 177 



