FACTORS FOR SUCCESS IN DAIRY FARMING 273 



by keeping the smaller number of large cows. Where the 

 land is level, and particularly if hay or other roughage is 

 abimdant, large cows are usually more profitable. Even 

 if nnall ones are introduced the farmers usually change 

 to large ones in time. Where the pastures are on steep, 

 rocky hillsides small cows are better able to hold their 

 pla< e. If pastures are very poor, the large cow is at a 

 dis; id vantage. She needs more feed, but she is not able 

 to valk so far as the small one. In the South where 

 hea and insects are both serious enemies of the dairy 

 business, nearly all of the cows kept are of the small active 

 bre< ds. 



Records of 110 cows kept by the University of Nebraska 

 showed that cows averaging 801 pounds in weight gave an 

 average of 263 pounds of butter-fat, those weighing 1002 

 pouads gave 278 pounds of fat, and those averaging 1211 

 pounds produced 346 pounds of butter-fat. The production 

 was in proportion to the size. 1 



Of course the vital point is production per cow. If one is 

 buying a cow with a known record, it is the record that 

 should be considered. A large cow that is a failure is a 

 bigger failure than a small one that is a failure. The best 

 success comes from keeping large cows that are also good 

 for their size. 



When large numbers are considered, the production and 

 feed consumption seem to be about in proportion to the size. 

 The advantage of having large animals is in the saving of 

 barn room and labor, just as there is an advantage in using 

 a six-foot mower rather than a four-foot one. 



1 Records of cows reported in Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station 

 Bulletin 139. Cows sorted by average weights for the years reported, into 

 three groups, 900 pounds or less, 901-1100 pounds, and over 1100 pounds. 



