HOW TO SELECT COWS TEXT

of some of the heifers to two hundred pounds, and the average to three hundred pounds. The increasing the butter yield of the heifers from a herd of cows one half by using a bull on them from a family or breed that make twice as much, or the reverse, can be relied upon as certainly as any expected result in the most uncertain of all business, namely: that of breeding. If these statements are correct, what had a farmer better pay for a bull from a 400 pound butter family, to use on his herd of ten 200 pound butter cows, rather than use a bull from a 200 pound butter family? It may be said that the keeping would cost more, because the higher bred product must be kept better. There is some truth in this, but the better keeping would affect favorably the poorer animals as well, and whatever the extra feed would cost, it would carry the value of the average yield as much above the figures we are making, as the extra feed would cost. The ten 200 pound butter cows, in ten years would pay a profit of $1,957 30. If the ten cows bred from them, by using the 400 pound butter bull, would make half as much again butter at the same cost, the general product would be increased by one half, and leave the sum to be deducted for keeping the same, for if the two year old 200 pound butter heifer could be raised for $30, so could the better bred one. The profit on each of them, deducting $54 18, cost of cow, will be $484 64—on the ten, $4,846 40, and on the 200 pound butter cows, the profits would be $1,957 30. The advantages reaped by the farmer who has the product for ten years of heifers bred by using the better bull, will be $2,889 10 more than on the 200 pound butter cows. If he paid for his bull $1,500, and the bull and all his cows died at twelve years old, the farmer would be as well off as he would have been to have used the 200 pound butter bull. But there is no necessity of paying $1,500 for a 400 pound butter bull. One hundred dollars will buy a Jersey bull, six weeks old, from a 400 pound butter family, and he will be old enough to use in twelve months. The $100 paid for him, at six per cent. compound interest, would amount to $191 61, in eleven years. The profit on ten butter cows making three hundred pounds over the ten cows making two hundred pounds in ten years, being $2,800, by deducting the $191 61 for the bull that produced them, (counting nothing for the 200 pound butter bull, for he is good-for-nothing,) the actual advantage reaped by the farmer with intelligence and enterprise enough to secure the better bull, in the ten years after his heifers come in, is over $2,500 on the butter alone. The animals are counted of no value when twelve years old, as the price got for those living beyond that age would average to pay only for the losses caused by accident to animals before reaching that age. These figures take no account of the skim-milk or buttermilk, for they are nearly the same in either case, and will pay the taxes and for the care of the animals; but there is one very important source of profit that is not reckoned, and that is the extra value of the progeny, which is shown by the following table, to be $17,424 48. There must be no mistake made in procuring a Jersey bull calf. Although, as a breed, they are twice to three times as valuable for butter as common cows, yet any farmer who buys or uses a Jersey bull, because he is a Jersey bull, will sorely repent his venture. Buy a bull only from the very best families of Jerseys. They are cheaper than the gift of an average good one. The idea that it costs more to keep Jersey cows than common cows, or that Jersey cows will not take on flesh, for beef, as readily as other breeds, is true in one view, and very erroneous in another and more correct one. What a Jersey eats, beyond a limited amount, increases the quantity and richness of her milk, not her flesh, and the amount of flesh she carries is proportionally less for any extra feed, because it does not make flesh, but increases the butter globules in her milk. Again, any other breed can be readily dried off at any time, and being dry, or giving but little milk, and that of poor quality, they readily take on flesh, but a good Jersey is “dried off” with great difficulty, and herein she greatly excels all other breeds. Hundreds of Jerseys, milking twelve to sixteen quarts at their flush, hold out so evenly, that they will give many more quarts of milk, and of double the richness, in a year, than eighteen to twenty-four quart cows, of other families, that are dry several months of the year. It is the experience of every breeder of Jerseys that, _being dry_, they will take on flesh as fast, with a given quantity and quality of feed, as other breeds, not exclusively beef producers. They are not good for beef, simply because they are good for butter. From Jersey cows, a farmer in New England can make a pound of butter worth thirty-five cents, with a less quantity of food than they now use to make a pound and one half of beef worth nine cents. If farmers think there is some error in these statements, they will, like sensible men whose prosperity depends upon the result, sit down and figure out the results for themselves. Those who talk loudest against them, will hold on to a cow in their herd that has a little Jersey blood in her; and if they put a price on her, it will be from half as much again, to double that of the finer formed cow standing beside her, guiltless of having any Jersey blood in her veins. If there is an animal to be had any better than the bull any one is now using, it ought to be secured at once. So with cows, but by all means change at once for a better, any bull, however good. It is not claimed for any of the tables herewith presented, that they show absolutely the value of any cow to any farmer, but only that they are relatively correct. Every man who consults them, must make his own adjustments as to cost and receipts on any cow he owns. It is clear, that adding a very little to the cost of keeping, and deducting a very little from the price of butter, will show that any 200 pound butter cow brings her owner in debt, each year. Again, there are probably hundreds of cows kept for the dairy, that will not make two hundred pounds of butter in one year on the same feed Jersey Belle of Scituate, had when she made seven hundred and five pounds of butter in one year. It may be said that no allowance is made for any accidents to which a cow is liable—to abort, to have a calf die at birth, to injury, &c., and the thought is present that the loss on the poorer animal is not so much, in that case, as on the better; but the better is no more liable to such a case, and the loss is nearly the same proportionally. But it is still true, that the nearer to absolute worthlessness animals are, the less the loss, relatively and absolutely, their owner suffers in their injury. Better remember, however, that “blessed be nothing” is not the ejaculation of the healthful, the enterprising, and the successful, but of desperate disease, incapacity, or idleness. Table E. Showing the value of the progeny of a herd of 32 cows, that each make 300 pounds of butter annually, at the expiration of ten years, together with the value of the butter the progeny will have made during the ten years. Also showing the same on a herd of 32 cows, each making 200 pounds of butter annually. No account is taken of the bull calves, for they are worth nothing. No one can afford to use a bull, however good, if one is to be had that is any better. ================================================================ || 200 POUND BUTTER HERD. | -------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------+ On |The | Coming ||Value of |Value of|Total value| January|original | in milk ||butter |heifers |of the | 1st, |herd of | at 2, ||at the |at end |heifers | of the |32 will | will make||end of ten|of ten |and their | year— |drop— | butter— ||years. |years. |product. | -------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------+ 1881 |16 heifers,| 8 years, ||$3,174 46 | $160 | $3,334 46 | 1882 |16 ” | 7 ” || 2,724 54 | 160 | 2,884 54 | 1883 |16 ” | 6 ” || 2,247 04 | 320 | 2,567 04 | 1884 |16 ” | 5 ” || 1,740 32 | 480 | 2,220 32 | 1885 |16 ” | 4 ” || 1,202 72 | 480 | 1,682 72 | 1886 |16 ” | 3 ” || 632 32 | 480 | 1,112 32 | 1887 |16 ” | 2 ” || 208 64 | 480 | 688 64 | 1888 |16 ” | 1 ” || | 480 | 480 00 | 1889 |16 ” | yearling,|| | 288 | 288 00 | 1890 |16 ” | calf, || | 96 | 96 00 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Second Generation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1883 | 8 heifers,| 6 years, ||$1,122 52 | 160 | $1,283 54 | 1884 | 8 ” | 5 ” || 870 16 | 240 | 1,110 16 | 1885 | 8 ” | 4 ” || 601 36 | 240 | 841 36 | 1886 | 8 ” | 3 ” || 316 16 | 240 | 556 16 | 1887 | 8 ” | 2 ” || 104 32 | 240 | 344 32 | 1888 | 8 ” | 1 ” || | 240 | 240 00 | 1889 | 8 ” | yearling,|| | 144 | 144 00 | 1890 | 8 ” | calf, || | 48 | 48 00 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Third Generation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1885 | 4 heifers,| 4 years, || $300 68 | 120 | $420 68 | 1886 | 4 ” | 3 ” || 158 08 | 120 | 278 08 | 1887 | 4 ” | 2 ” || 52 16 | 120 | 172 16 | 1888 | 4 ” | 1 ” || | 120 | 120 00 | 1889 | 4 ” | yearling,|| | 72 | 72 00 | 1890 | 4 ” | calf, || | 24 | 24 00 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Fourth Generation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1887 | 2 heifers,| 2 years, || $26 08 | 60 | $86 08 | 1888 | 2 ” | 1 ” || | 60 | 60 00 | 1889 | 2 ” | yearling,|| | 36 | 36 00 | 1890 | 2 ” | calf, || | 12 | 12 00 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Fifth Generation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1889 | 1 heifer, | yearling,|| | 18 | 18 00 | 1890 | 1 ” | calf, || | 6 | 6 00 | ================================================================ Total value of progeny from herd of 32 in 10 years, $21,226 58 Value of progeny, $663 33 on each 200 pound cow. =============================================================== || 300 POUND BUTTER HERD. -------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+----------- On |The | Coming ||Value of |Value of|Total value January|original | in milk ||butter |heifers |of the 1st, |herd of | at 2, ||at the |at end |heifers of the |32 will | will make||end of ten|of ten |and their year— |drop— | butter— ||years. |years. |product. -------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+----------- 1881 |16 heifers,| 8 years, ||$6,973 12 | $1,216 | $8,189 12 1882 |16 ” | 7 ” || 6,073 12 | 1,824 | 7,897 12 1883 |16 ” | 6 ” || 5,117 92 | 2,432 | 7,549 92 1884 |16 ” | 5 ” || 4,104 32 | 3,040 | 7,144 32 1885 |16 ” | 4 ” || 3,029 12 | 3,040 | 6,069 12 1886 |16 ” | 3 ” || 1,888 32 | 3,040 | 4,928 32 1887 |16 ” | 2 ” || 980 48 | 3,040 | 4,020 48 1888 |16 ” | 1 ” || 340 32 | 3,040 | 3,380 32 1889 |16 ” | yearling,|| | 2,000 | 2,000 00 1890 |16 ” | calf, || | 960 | 960 00 --------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Second Generation. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1883 | 8 heifers,| 6 years, ||$2,558 96 | 1,216 | $3,774 96 1884 | 8 ” | 5 ” || 2,052 16 | 1,520 | 3,572 16 1885 | 8 ” | 4 ” || 1,514 56 | 1,520 | 3,034 56 1886 | 8 ” | 3 ” || 944 16 | 1,520 | 2,464 16 1887 | 8 ” | 2 ” || 490 24 | 1,520 | 2,010 24 1888 | 8 ” | 1 ” || 170 16 | 1,520 | 1,690 16 1889 | 8 ” | yearling,|| | 1,000 | 1,000 00 1890 | 8 ” | calf, || | 480 | 480 00 --------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Third Generation. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1885 | 4 heifers,| 4 years, || $757 28 | 760 | $1,517 28 1886 | 4 ” | 3 ” || 472 08 | 760 | 1,232 08 1887 | 4 ” | 2 ” || 245 12 | 760 | 1,005 12 1888 | 4 ” | 1 ” || 85 08 | 760 | 845 08 1889 | 4 ” | yearling,|| | 500 | 500 00 1890 | 4 ” | calf, || | 240 | 240 00 --------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Fourth Generation. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1887 | 2 heifers,| 2 years, || $122 56 | 380 | $502 56 1888 | 2 ” | 1 ” || 42 54 | 380 | 422 54 1889 | 2 ” | yearling,|| | 250 | 250 00 1890 | 2 ” | calf, || | 120 | 120 00 --------------------------------------------------------------- Product of the Fifth Generation. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1889 | 1 heifer, | yearling,|| | 125 | 125 00 1890 | 1 ” | calf, || | 60 | 60 00 =============================================================== Total value of progeny from herd of 32 in 10 years, $76,984 62 Value of progeny, $2,405 77 on each 300 pound cow. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. “The whole system is very clearly laid down, so that any one, by practice and study, may learn from this work how to use it. The arguments for and against are also set forth, with proofs of the value of the system. Our dairymen would do well to study the subject and be able to guess as well as the members of the commission on the value of the cows examined by them.”—_American Dairymen._ “In itself, the system is very simple, and, with care, easily understood; and, taking into consideration its great importance, should be studied and acquired by all who are directly or indirectly interested in farming, and as so many opportunities are offering to obtain a practical knowledge of the method, there can be no excuse for ignorance any longer. The system of judging the value of cows has become so thoroughly arranged that with a little practice, enough can be learned from it in a short time to serve any one making use of it, and thereby avoiding loss. “The bulls are found marked with corresponding designs, as far as the sex permits, which indicate unerringly their good and poor qualities; and thus by a wise use of the knowledge acquired through the Guenon method, stock breeders can judiciously, and with almost certainty, select their cattle for the purposes in view, either for milking, butter-making, or beef, according to their desire, for all these results follow its teachings.”—_State Fair Daily._ “Mr. Hazard has given us a most interesting work upon a system that has gained the respect and consideration of thinking farmers the world over.”—_Farm and Fireside, Springfield, Ohio._ “Mr. Hazard is, no doubt, the best posted supporter of the system in this country, and may be regarded as authority. If his recommendations for the selection of dairy stock are worthless then the whole Guenon system may be condemned as being utterly fallacious. His book deserves careful attention from intelligent farmers.”—_Bucks County Intelligencer._ “In a majority of cases, the marks have been reliable, and this should incite all dairy folks to know what is said about it.”—_Meehan’s Gardner’s Monthly._ “It embraces a sketch of Guenon, and the progress of his discovery; extracts from his preface explaining his views; an explanation of his system of escutcheon marks; descriptions of the various escutcheons and their indications of value and quantity, and directions how to apply them in practice, together with the report of the commission of which the author served as secretary. Nearly one hundred illustrations are given, those of the escutcheons being photographed from the drawings in Guenon’s last revised edition.”—_Country Gentleman and Cultivator._ “Remarkable as was M. Guenon’s method, and although his discoveries were duly made known in this country, this is the first time that his methods have been compiled for practical use. By the use of this little handbook, there can be no doubt, but that farmers and stock raisers would save a vast amount of money. The explanations are simple and easily followed, the numerous illustrations serving to elucidate the text.”—_Boston Evening Traveler._ “Beginning with a little sketch of the method of the birth of the system in Guenon’s mind, the author goes on in a clear and concise manner to explain by plain language and appropriate drawings, the various so called ‘milk mirrors’ and their values, being properly understood, as aids in selecting good dairy stock. The various opinions of those adverse to the ‘theory’ are fairly discussed, and the reports of various agricultural societies which have from time to time investigated it are given, together with the report of the Pennsylvania commission. Taken altogether, Mr. Hazard has succeeded in making a very readable, interesting and valuable book, and one which, whatever may or may not be the preconceived ideas of its reader, cannot fail to interest and instruct him upon a subject which should be far better understood amongst farmers generally, than it at present is.”—_New England Homestead._ “A very valuable pamphlet. Mr. Hazard has devoted great attention and study to the subject, with a view of rendering the system popular, and we happen to know that his work is largely appreciated, especially by the farmers of New England, from the number of orders received for the book. The discovery made by Mr. Guenon, and the practical principles founded on it are invaluable, and the saving to the country by its general knowledge will be very great. The State of Pennsylvania, in 1878, appointed a commission to test the system and report on it. Mr. Hazard was a member of the commission, and has added the results of much study and research. He has been invited to lecture and present the subject at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, at Greenfield, and has many invitations and engagements in other places.”—_Massachusetts Ploughman._ “This volume embraces all the essential matters in Guenon’s treatise. It is really a valuable contribution to dairy literature.”—_Southern Cultivator._ “Every farmer should study Guenon.”—_Farm Journal._ “Dairymen and stock raisers should send for a copy.”—_Rural Nebraska._