1226 
THE KURA U NEW-YORKER 
October 10, 
The Cost of a Heifer. 
IT has been figured that the average net 
A cost of raising a yearling dairy heifer 
on a Wisconsin farm is $39.52. A two- 
year-old heifer costs $61.41. These fig¬ 
ures are probably fair, as they represent 
the average of 117 calves. Probably 
these figures will apply to most other 
dairy districts in the North and East. 
There are in the United States today 
over 21.000,000 dairy cows, or about one 
for each five human beings and this ot 
course shows what an immense sum is 
required each year to keep up the size of 
this national herd. The figures for the 
one year old heifer are given by the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture as follows:— 
Feed . $24.67 
Uabor . 4.45 
Other costs. 6.36 
Initial value of calf estimated at. . 7.04 
Total cost at end of one year. . . . $42.52 
A credit of $3. is allowed for the man¬ 
ure, which gives the net cost as stated 
above. For the two year old heifer the 
following figures are given:— 
Initial values . $7.04 
Feed . 40.S3 
Labor . 7.81 
Other costs . 13.73 
Total. $69.41 
Credit for manure . S.OO 
$61.41 
The most expensive period in the life 
of the calf is the first four weeks, because 
during that period, the calves must live 
almost entirely upon whole milk. One- 
half of the feed cost for the first year 
and one-third for the full two years is for 
whole or skim-milk. The manual labor 
required in raising a heifer is about 40 
hours during the first year and 23 hours 
for the second year. The total cost of 
man and horse labor in caring and pro¬ 
viding food for the two years is close to 
88. The item of other costs would in¬ 
clude interest, rent of building and equip¬ 
ment, bedding and a fair share of the 
expense of the farm business. We be¬ 
lieve these figures,'are substantially cor¬ 
rect as given by the Department. It 
costs about as much to raise a scrub 
heifer as one that contains a good share 
of pure blood. A scrub heifei would 
rarely sell for more than $40, a clear 
loss of $20 or more. In fact, a heifer 
has to be good enough to bring $60 when 
two years of age in order to give an even 
return for what she has cost. It is true 
that on some cheap farms, or where there 
is an abundance of silage, or Alfalfa hay 
the heifer may be grown for a little less 
than these figures, but there is no business 
that could prosper in producing a thing 
for just about what it cost, and if you 
produce a heifer at all, and pay out $60 
in labor and feed, you ought to produce 
a good one rather than a scrub. 
Composition of a Cow’s Cud. 
HAT is the composition of a cow’s 
cud? I know that the pellets 
formed in the first stomach of the 
cow tribe, which are afterwards raised 
and chewed again, are passed into the 
third stomach to be completely digested 
in the fourth stomach, but this does not 
explain what the composition of a cow’s 
ciifl is B. n. 
Alabama. 
The cow’s cud consists of a food par¬ 
tially masticated which has been through 
the pouch and returned for more thorough 
mastication, and the only change the food 
has undergone is that a part of the insol¬ 
uble starch has been changed to a sugar 
called maltose. When the food first en¬ 
ters the mouth of the animal it is ground 
by the teeth, and at the same time moist¬ 
ened Avitli Jlie alkaline saliva. In this 
condition the food is more easily swal- 
lowed. The most important property of 
the saliva is due to the enzyme petuia- 
lin, which it contains. This first enzyme 
of the digestion converts the insoluble 
starches of the food into a sugar called 
maltose. The protein and fat of the food 
are not changed by the action of the sa¬ 
liva. The food remains in the mouth for a 
comparatively short time when it is passed 
on to the stomach. In ruminants or ani¬ 
mals which chew the cud, the stomach 
lias expanded into three compartments 
called the pouch, the honeycomb and the 
manyplies before the true stomach is 
reached. They serve him merely for a 
pouch chest for the storage of food and 
for better preparing it for digestion. In 
ruminants the food is swallowed after 
paz-tial mastication, and passes into the 
pouch from which it can be returned to 
the mouth in small portions to be again 
cheAved Avhen it passes on to the true 
stomach and digestion proper begins. 
F. C. M. 
DelaAvare County Conditions. 
D ELAWARE County farmers are just¬ 
ly indignant regarding articles ap¬ 
pearing libelling the county. The 
dairymen loudly protest against reports 
branding them as filthy, their barns dark 
and unsanitary and stating that butter 
and cheese factories are encouraging these 
conditions that they may control the milk 
supply. These facts are not true, and if 
dairymen anywhere deserve commenda¬ 
tion for clean well-lighted, well-ventilated 
barns, the farmers of Delaware County 
deserve praise. The Delaware County 
farmer admits that there are slovenly 
dairymen here, but there are fewer 
slovenly dairymen in this county, the 
number of dairy farmers cor. idered, than 
in many dairy sections elsewhere. A 
writer recently declared, “There is a 
curse on Delaware County,” and the 
farmers insist the author of the article 
is the curse, and his story is entirely 
false. 
Delaware farmers state that of 90 
creameries in operation there is not one 
which receives milk which would not be 
accepted in New York city. The butter 
and cheese produced in the county, the 
present writer is informed, are from 
dairies which have passed rigid inspection 
by competent and sensible men. Two 
of the large milk concerns. Borden's and 
Sheffield’s, employing a skilled veterin¬ 
arian, and demanding the most rigid in¬ 
spection, are operating in the county, and 
they find the dairymen willing to measure 
up to their demands in barn equipment, 
sanitation and maintenance of healthy 
herds. 
One concern which had not been under 
the direct supervision of the State, owing 
to sales outside the Empire State, recent¬ 
ly came under NeAV York health authori¬ 
ties’ supervision in view of shipping milk 
to the city. The 370 tributary dairies to 
this concern were inspected, and it was 
found necessary to make recommendations 
to but 25 dairymen, and then not for 
filth, but for insufficient light and air re¬ 
quirements. The demands of the depart¬ 
ment were satisfied in each instance. 
One of the leading dairy papers also 
takes a gloomy view of the County, and 
this has aroused protest in the minds 
of the farmers in Delaware County. The 
farmers admit there are dairymen who 
are in the rear of the procession. There 
are many silos, and there are being more 
established each year. It is a good hay 
county; many of the farmers have a large 
acreage of hay. Where hay has grown as 
Avell as in Delaware County, farmers have 
been sloAver in establishing silos. Farm¬ 
ers in this county are buying gasoline en¬ 
gines, many own their silo-filling outfits, 
many automobiles, mechanical milkers 
and the interest is keen in purebred 
stock. Jerseys predominate in the county, 
Holsteins next and there are many Guern¬ 
seys and Ayrshires. The farmers are 
forming a breeders’ association, open to 
all. and there is an active Ilolstein- 
Friesiar. breeders’ association. The pure¬ 
bred Holstein population is between 3.500 
and 4.000 head, and is increasing rapidly. 
As good dairy blood is to be found in 
this county as elsewhere, and among the 
Jerseys there is one farm, the Merridale 
farm, which has 400 head of purebreds, 
both excellent imported and American 
blood. There are many excellent herds 
of from 50 coavs to more than 100. The 
farmers are learning the value of the 
purebred sire, and are heading their 
grades with good blood. Those who have 
been keeping grades are introducing pure¬ 
breds in their herds. 
Farmers agree there is too much swap¬ 
ping of milk checks for feed bills. This 
situation cannot be remedied at once, but 
it is the policy of some farmers to raise 
as much grain as they can, oats and buck¬ 
wheat being their principal grain crops. 
The oat crop was very good f 's year, 
many pieces going better than 50 bushels. 
Buckwheat, some farmers declare, is not 
as well filled as it might be but quite 
good. The season has been a little Avet. 
Silo filling was well completed September 
20 . 
There is perhaps only one per cent, of 
the sheep raised there were a half century 
ago. A number of farmers are raising 
hogs: the white breed seems the favorite, 
the O. I. C. the Chester Whites being 
the more common. 
One farmer stated the price they are 
receiving is $1.65 for 4.5% milk, and 
three cents better the point up to 5.3%, 
and three cents of! for every point be¬ 
low that figure, 10 cents better for barn 
score. There were 16 farmers who re¬ 
cently had bacterial count made of their 
milk, and it was below the minimum lim¬ 
it prescribed. The farmers have high 
labor expense, great expense for feed, and 
the margin to the man who relies on milk 
production alone is small. The farmer 
is justified in criticising prices in view 
of his high cost of production and inter¬ 
est on investment, and his interest in 
purebred stock is one of the various evi¬ 
dences that he wants to make dairying 
pay a profit in Delaware County. For 
July the Bovina Center Cooperative 
Creamery Co. paid 37^4 cents a pound for 
butterfat; the Andes Creamery Co. paid 
34 . cents, and the Andes Cooperative I 
Dairy Co. 32cents a pound. av. j. 
Internationa! Harvester 
Manure Spreaders 
International 
spreaders 
so 
Harvester 
popular ? 
XX7HY are 
* * manure 
Because: 
An I H C spreader is low enough for easy 
loading, yet it has plenty of clearance under¬ 
neath. The rear axle is well under the load. 
Rear wheels have wide rims and Z-shaped lugs, in¬ 
suring good traction under all conditions. Frame, 
wheels, and all driving parts are of steel. Apron 
tension is adjusted by a simple device. Winding of 
the beater is prevented by large diameter, and beater 
teeth are strong, square and chisel-pointed. 
International manure spreaders are built in sev¬ 
eral styles and sizes, low or high, endless or return 
apron, for small farms and large. Repairs, when 
needed, may always be had promptly of the local 
dealer. 
Examine International spreaders at the dealer’s. 
Write us and we will tell you who sells them, and 
we will send you interesting catalogues. 
The IH C Line 
GRAIN AND HAY 
MACHINES 
Pnders, Reapers 
Headers, Mower* 
Rakes, Stackers 
Hay Loaders 
Hay Presses 
CORN MACHINES 
Planters, Pickers 
Binders, Cultivators 
Ensilage Cutters 
Shelters, Shredders 
TILLAGE 
Peg, Spring-Tooth, 
and Disk Harrows 
Cultivators 
GENERAL LINE 
Oil and Gas Engines 
Oil Tractors 
Manure Spreaders 
Cream Separators 
Farm Wagons 
Motor Trucks 
Threshers 
Grain Drills 
Feed Grinders 
Knife Grinders 
Binder Twine 
International Harvester Company of America 
(Incorporated) 
CHICAGO USA 
' Champion Peering McCormick Milwaukee Osborne Plano 
FENCE 
AMERICAN 
POSTs 
Made by American Steel & Wire Company 
High-class steel, heavily coated with zinc. Strong 
enough to hold up any wire fence and furnish all nec¬ 
essary resistance. End and corner posts so strong 
that they will maintain any wire fence made. 
Cheaper than Wood and More Durable 
Adapted to all conditions and absolutely satisfac¬ 
tory, no matter how heavy the fence nor how hard the 
usage after the fence is erected. Give better service 
than wood post, and you get the benefit of every post 
in the fence from year to year, while wood posts 
burn, rot and decay from the start. Have been in 
service since 1898, in every section of the United 
States, and the oldest posts now as good as when set. 
Adapted to ail fences. Increases tne life of a fence. 
A wire fence on wooden posts is like building a brick 
house on a wood foundation. For sale by dealers 
everywhere. . Big picture catalog FREE. 
American Steel & Wire Co., Chicago, New York 
41052 
Direct from 
i factory, freight 
prepaid. Over 
— 1 to styles for every 
^ purpose, all Rouble oal~ 
-- yantzed. 13c per rod up. New 
- .T'kL'K Vo* 81 * 
THE BROWN FENCE & WIRE CO. ^ 
Dopt. 59 Cleveland, Ohio 
I 
ALL 1 
$ 10 , 000.00 
BACKS THIS SAW. IT IS THE BEST AND CHEAPEST SAW MAOE. 
HERTZLER & ZOOK 
SAW 
Portable 
Wood 
is easy to operate. 
Only $10 saw made to 
which ripping table can 
be added. Guaranteed 
lyear. Money refunded 
if not satisfactory. 
Send for catalog. 
Hertzler & Zook Co. 
Box 9. Belleville. Pa. J 
Save Fence Money 
Know how to judge a wire fence for yourself. 
Our book tells you how to do it. Learn why the 
No. 9 Empire and Empire, Jr. 
Me the least expensive fences to buy in the long run. 
Empire fence is made of open hearth, steel, big 
wires, galvanized as a wire fence 
should be galvanized Will out¬ 
last any soft Bessemer steel 
fence ever made. 
Write today for Free Book. 
Address 
BOND STEEL POST CO. 
V 9T Alaumce Street 
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN^ 
•Ti 
„ You get it without argument under 
our guarantee if rusting out occurs in an 
AMERICAN INCOT IRON ROOF 
Rust-resisting Pure Iron-Not Steel 
Our bond protects you. Lifetime 
)service, low cost. 
L'fl Write today fur Free Roofing Catalog. 
InX V'Q W< ' “ Uo maI *« C"m CrlhH, Stock Tanks, Wire 
fences. Crib A Tank, or E’ence Catalog Free. 
The American Iron Roofing Co. 
Station 16 MIDDLETOWN, OHIO 
ELECTRIC 
Steel Wheels 
Save YOUR Back 
L 
Save draft — save repairs. 
Don’t rut roads or fields. Send today for free 
Illustrated catalog of wheels and wagons. 
Electric Wheel Co., 4 8 Elm St., Quincy. III. 
BOOKS WORTH READING 
11 How Crops Grow, Johnson. 1.50 fl 
|1 Celery Culture, Beattie.50 || 
= = Greenhouse Construction, Taft.... 1.50 H 
The Rural New-Yorker, 333 W. 30th St., N. Y. 
wd- ' iMihl’iit' Ah’ sr ■ 'iJtm 
saiivs for 
mmniiimiwmimniinnw 
7 |ET me send 
/ ■“-* you this new 
' complete Saw- 
rig, to earn its l 
own cost while i 
you pay lor it. Or I 
any other WITTE fl 
engine on the ■ 
same reasonable 9 
terms. ■ 
Ed. H. Witte. I 
-y 5 - 
r c.year 
Liuarantee 
Easy to 
run on any s 
of tbese luels- 
KerosE n e, Dislillate.Gasoline,& Gas 
Buy Direct From My Factory 
Let me send you what hundreds of satisfied users, from 
Maine to California, say of their earnings. 
$5 to $10 a Day Profit 
You can do as well with this fine-running rig. Most of my 
customers never saw one until they got their WITTE outfits, 
and everyone lias got along fine, right from the first day. 
A regular WITTE engine mounted on an all-steel truck, 
equipped with detachable steel saw-frame, saw-blade, saw- 
guard, belt and belt-tightener, seat, foot-rest, chain-brake, 
muffler and pole. Evenly balanced—smooth running—easy 
starting—small fuel consumption. Proven good by 27 
years’ use under tha hardest kind of work. 
NeW Book Ercc J Get m y New Free Book—“How to Judge Engines.” It 
.. showsmy engines inside and out. No ono can sell you bet¬ 
ter engines for any price, and none os good for my prices. Wrlto mo today. 
•®*H. Witte. Witte Iron Works Co., 1806 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 
WITTE 
ENGINES 
New Prices! 
ENGINE SAW-RIGS 
6 H-P $173.80 
8 H-P 227.10 
12 H-P 324.50 
H-P 
STATIONARY 
PORTABLE 
2 
$ 34.95 
$ 40.95 
4 
69.75 
82.80 
6 
99.35 
141.80 
8 
139.65 
190.40 
12 
219.90 
279.80 
16 
298.80 
378.70 
22 
399.65 
483.15 
