CHAPTER VIII 



How to Secure Cows Combining the 

 Five Essential Points 



Although there are millions of cows being milked on the 

 farms of the United States, there are comparatively few that 

 are not markedly deficient in one or more of the points that 

 denote real worth. 



It is a well recognized fact that a great majority of the 

 cows milked today are no better than the cows that were 

 being milked 50 years ago, although there are many breeders 

 and dairymen that have made great advancement. They have 

 improved their herds by selection and breeding and have 

 pointed out to the world not only the possibilities that rest 

 with the dairy cow but also the manner in which great cows 

 can be produced. 



Those who own cows well developed in all of the five 

 essential points are not desirous of parting with them be- 

 cause such a cow is always recognized by the intelligent 

 owner as a most profitable animal. She returns annually 

 more net profit than any other animal on the farm and in 

 many instances more profit than her selling price would 

 amount to were she to be offered for sale. For this reason, 

 although cows excellent in productive characteristics can be 

 bought by the hundreds, they are very high-priced as com- 

 pared with common cow values. Nevertheless, they are worth 

 many times as much and, rather than to milk a lot of cows 

 that range from a loss to only a few dollars' profit annually, 

 it is advisable to bear in mind the points of a good cow. Se- 

 cure, in all events, those that will return annual profits rang- 

 ing from $50 upward, for such an increase will pay interest 

 on a greatly advanced cost price and at the same time pay for 

 the cow in a short time. 



More Good Cows Needed 



Such cows should be numerous on e\'ery farm in America, 

 and, no doubt, the time is close at hand when they will be. 

 With land increasing rapidly in value, foodstuffs and labor 

 becoming expensive and scarce, he who milks is soon going 

 to realize that it is a costly luxury to keep cows that do not 

 pay a profit on the feed and labor expended upon them, even 



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