DAIRY ENTERPRISE
Analysis into Jobs.—The following teaching units include the main
jobs in the pursuit of a dairy enterprise. References are to pages in New
Agriculture, Davis’ Farm Projects and Problems, and to numbers in avail
able U. 8. Farmers’ Bulletins. See Washburn’s Productive Dairy Husbandry
1. Deciding whether or not to pursue dairying, p. 345; Farm Projects,
379, 380; Bulletins, 1272 1446. Local inquiry.— (a) Get farm-
ers to compare dairying with other farming enterprises. Ask
them to compare profits, labor involved, capital required and
losses. (b) Compare local prices for dairy products with prices
elsewhere.
2. Choosing the dairy breed, p. 345; Farm Projects, 380-386; Bulletins,
1068, 1443. Local inquiry.— (a) What pure breeds and grades of
different dairy breeds are represented locally? (b) Find why
some are more popular than others. (c¢) Ask owners to give
reasons for their preferred breeds.
3. Selecting and procuring dairy cattle, pp. 345-353; Farm Projects,
387; Bulletins, 1066, 1068, 1443. Local inquiry.— (a) Find how
and where good dairy stock can be secured. (b) Consult farmers
regarding prices that should be paid. (¢) Calculate the cost of
raising heifer calves to milk age. (d) Compare the prices asked
for good milkers.
4. Planning barns, silos and dairy houses, p. 360; Farm Projects, 380,
388; Bulletins, 578, 1214, 1342, 1393. Local inquiry.— (a) Visit
several barns, silos and dairy houses. (b) Draw plans of those
which suit you best. (¢) Calculate the cost of each.
5. Equipping for dairying, p. 360; Farm Projects, 380; Bulletins, 1078,
1214, 1426, 1448, 1473. Local inquiry.— (a) Visit good dairies
and make a list of all the dairy equipment you would need for
your dairy enterprise. (b) Look up cost of these items in dairy
catalogues. (c) Cull the list to suit the capital of a beginner.
6. Planning rotations and pastures, p. 358; Farm Projects, 389-390;
Bulletins, 578, 1179, 1229. Local inquiry.—(a) Write out the
rotation crop system followed on several good dairy farms. (b)
Find the pasturing plans of the best dairymen. (c¢) Calculate
sizes of pastures for the herds of different numbers.
7. Feeding the dairy herd, p. 355-358; Farm Projects, 390-393; Bulle-
tins, 578, 724, 743, 1179, 1229, 1336, 1342, 1428, 1448. Local
inquiry— (a) What dairy feeds are grown on the home farms?
(b) What supplementary feeds are purchased in your region?
(¢) Write out the dairy rations of several good feeders. (d) Com-
pare these in nutritive ratio, cost and other points.
8. Managing the dairy herd, pp. 354, 355; Farm Projects, 390-393; Bulle-
tins, 1336, 1412, 1470. Local inquiry.—(a) Find what disposi-
tions are made of the male calves in your region. (bh) Ask sev-
eral dairymen to give their opinions regarding the raising of
heifer calves to milk age. (¢) How and when are the old cows
culled from the herd? (d) Study local methods of caring for dry
stock and young stock. (e) Study local methods of caring for
milk cows in stormv weather.
Ae
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