Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-12-17
The DAIRY MOVEMENT
IN HAWKEYE STATE
Former Side Line on Iowa Farm
Now on Systematic Basis.
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT
AS TOLD BY AN EXPERT.
Prof. T.. s. Estel Writes Interesting
Article Desci ibing Development
of Dairy Industry i'm This
State.

Only few years ago, dairying
was a side line on the Iowa farm.
Today, however, the conditions are
entirely different in many localities,
there are large breeders organiza-
lions formed and the dairy depart
ment of the farm is being placed on
a systematic basis. In many instan-
ces the farmers have purchased the
necessary apparatus themselves,
while in other localities Dairy
Test association has been formed
for the purpose of hiring an expert
man to go from farm to farm and
test the various herds in the
neighborhood. The cows that are
found to be Improbable are sold,
and better animals are secured to-
take their places. OF course this
process is necessarily slow but it is
bringing about a wonderful change
in the average production of the
Iowa COW. Because of the scarcity
of thrifty dairy animals, the thor
oughbred dairy sire is being used
and the COWS which are found to be
best in the herd are used for founda-
ton stock. The dairy sire, if he is
a good individual and has the breed
ing lack of him, shows his charac-
teristics to the offspring and it takes
but very short time before herd
OF good dairy cattle is built up.
This process does not only neces-
state the expenditure of a small
amount of money to the farmer but
at the same time revolutioniZes the
industry so that it does not materi-
ally increase the output during the
time that the improvement is being
made. During the past five years,
hundreds of pure bred dairy sires
have been introduced on the farms
of Iowa and wherever one goes, it
is plain to be seen that these ami
mails are giving very satisfactory re-
suits. Another source of improve
ment has been the introduction of
a large number of dairy cattle from
older sections OF the country. Hol-
stems, Jerseys and Guernseys are to
be found, and wherever one goes, it
is seldom that these men change af--
ter they have once secured this dairy
stock.
Iowa has number of the largest
breeders of pure bred dairy cattle
within the United States. Pure
bred Jerseys, Holsteins and Guern-
seys are scattered in large numbers
through the state and the Ayrshire
is also being introduced. The four
breeds mentioned are the leading
dairy breeds of cattle and are the
ones which have made Jersey Is
land, Holland, Denmark and Scot
land famous for their progressive
and comfortably situated farm
houses,
The opportunities for the dairy
COW in Iowa may be well illustrated
by c. A. Nelson of Waverly. He
has experienced an entire change
from the average methods of farm
ing to the up-to-date dairy farming
type. Mr. Nelson had an average
farm which was located near the
village where he marketed his hay
and grain. Formerly grain farming
was the principal occupation and
was barely making the owner good
living and interest on the money in
vested. At that time an inventory
of the farm was taken by its owner
and it was found to be losing mo-
ney TO a large extent and the dairy
department was found to be one of
the main factors which caused the
loss. After making thorough inves-
tigation, it was found that a large
number of the animals in the herd
were not paying for the feed they
ate. The Improbable cows were
then sold and the good animals re-
manned on the farm to form the
foundation stock for the new herd.
A pure bred Holstein sire was pur-
chased and by the intelligent use of
the animal, the herd was soon
changed from an Improbable one
to high grade Halstein herd that
was paying a good dividend. En-
couraged by these results, Mr.. Mel
son went further to have pure
bred Holstein nerd. A few cows
were purchased and by means OF
careful breeding, Mr.. Nelson has