The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-11-18

as we'll a. other counties, who are
thinking seriously OF keeping a few
more cows than they have in recent
years or since coming to North Da-
kota. y @r5s.*
In view OF. the fact that western
North Dakota has, since its earliest
occupancy, proven to be a success
full live stock section, 1t would seem
that a continuance of this branch OF
agriculture would be wise policy.
The. denser population, however,
maks it necessary to arrange the
plans of handling cattle on little
different line.
Confined largely to ones own land
.ita'becomes necessary to practice
more Intensive agriculture and, while
the first shock of the loss of the
free range to the old time ranches
was rather a severe one, there are
few remaining today who are so
selfish as to really wish the old con-
ditions were back again.
More intensive live stock growing
simply implies raising more feed
on less acres, providing better care
and shelter to reduce the danger Of
loss in herds, and to handle the
stock in such a manner that they
will pay a higher per cent of profit in
proportion to the Increased cost CO
ked ping.
That this can be done, has been
Sdone, and still is being done, is thor
oughly demonstrated by hundreds of
farmers in Montana and Oliver coun-
ties, who have been conducting dairy
ing as an important adjunct to grain
farming for the past fifteen years.
That their success along this line
has not had more general publicity
throughout the northern counties Is
due to the natural barrier, that sep
arates the sections, the Missouri
river and the difficulty of communl-
cation caused thereby.
To those familiar with the slmil--
arity Of soil, topography, climate, &C
feasibility to western markets and
other conditions, it certainly seems
that the farmers of che northern
counties would have taken up this
work considerably earlier and more
extensively than they have, mad
they generally realized how profitable
the Morton and Oliver county farm
ers have found~it. ... r,
Now that movement is being
made in favor of dairying, new idea
regarding how the farmers to the
south have met and solved some OF
the problems that have confronted
them at various stages of the present
state of development of their dairy
interests may be interesting. en-
couraging and helpful to those north
of the Missouri.
Naturally their foundation stock, In
,skeeding, ranged anywhere from the
minnesota Dogies" to full blood
,Shorthorns or Herefords and the
feed consisted largely of prairie
grass and hay. Through years OF
selection, raising heifer calves from
the best milk cows, thorough and
persistent milking, so as to prolong
the period of lactation the general
average of production per cow OF
whole herds are now averaging 5000
pounds of milk and some individual
animals have, under test, produced
over 5000 pounds OF milk during the
year. This condition might have
been brought about in much short-
err time than it was if they had at
first realized how successful they
were to be in their dairy venture and
put dairy type animals at the head OF
their herds. w ~ 1.
In the line of feed for the cows
they have also improved. German
millet was grown and proved 20 be
such sure and valuable crop that
it's cultivation has been continued
by nearly every milk farmer.
In no year have obey failed TO
have reasonably good yield, and
because of the late spring prepare
/, ten of the soil and thorough remov-
! ing from the field of all growth when
crop IS mown 1t has proved val
/; unable in other ways. Bronze grass
has been tried out for hay for =
. couple Of wears and then frequently
used or pasture. For the latter pur-
pose 1t has proven quite popular be-
cause Of Its use Of Its. growing earlier
in the spring and later I'm the fall
than the native grasses and also
providing more abundant , pasture.
Dat hay h grown by some and,
claimed by them to make . very sat
1sfactory roughage as well az hav-
ing considerable grain n it also. II
: The int tsw 49, - h ~ tgl u