PART I. 



THE DAIRY HERD. 



CHAPTER I. 



DAIRY FARMING A PROFITABLE; BUSINESS. 



That dairy farming is a profitable business is fully at- 

 tested by its unprecedented growth during the past 

 decade and a half. No other branch of agriculture has 

 ever witnessed such rapid development in a similar period 

 of time. Its growth has not been confined to any par- 

 ticular section or sections of the country, but has been 

 noticeable in all sections. 



The profits that have prompted this rapid and general 

 expansion of the dairy business have been derived from 

 two sources: (i) direct profits realized from the sale of 

 milk, cream, butter and cheese; (2) indirect profits ac- 

 cruing from an increased fertility of the land and the con- 

 sequent increased productiveness of the same. 



Direct Profits. It is pretty well conceded that in gen- 

 eral dairy cows yield greater returns for feed consumed 

 than either swine, sheep or beef animals. A good cow 

 will yield not less than 300 pounds of butter a year, which, 

 at 25 cents per pound, is worth $75. Adding to this the 

 value of 6,000 pounds of skim, milk at 20 cents per 100, 



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