The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-14
MOST Of the items Of cost that enter
into the production Of milk have

greatly increased in cost during
the last few years, but there has not
been . corresponding increase in the
price Of milk and milk products. Since
the success of the dairymen is depen.
dent upon the relative cost Of produc-
tion. and price Of dairy products it is
evident that he must lower the cost OF
production if he is to carry on his bust
ness with any profit. 1t is plain that he
cannot fix or materially alter the price
Of dairy products. The cost Of feed,
labor, equipment and dairy operation is
also largely beyond his power Of extern
sive control. The solution Of this en-
barrassing situation, which is becoming
acute, is to keep better cows.
"The problem is not difficult one
and improvement Of both type and pro.
ducine ability can be easily effected,
ssys Professor Graves, head Of the col
lege dairy department. "That there is
great need Of improvement in the pro-
ducing power Of the average dairy herd
of our state is very evident. Two facts
of vital importance to dairymen have
been revealed in the work Of experiment
stations, cow testing associations and
investigation of creameries. These
are, great variation in the producing
ability of different individuals in the
herd, and low average yield per cow.
These results have shown the farmers
the need Of awakening to more care
full study and investigation Of the pro-
ducing power Of their cows. 1t has
been shown in these Investigations that
the best cow sometimes yields two or
three times as much as the poorest. And
If q record Of food eaten is also kept,
it will be found that there is great
variation in the milk yield Of cows re-
ceiving the same amount Of feed. The
cost Of production is usually inversely
proportional to the amount Of produc-
tion.
"Abundant opportunity for improve
ment exists here in the Northwest, If
we but avail ourselves Of it. If proper
methods are used, improvement can be
easily and quickly effected.
"The breeding Of cattle is an in
tegral part Of the progressive dairy
man 8 business. The herd must be re-
plenished and the natural increase cared
for il continuous productiveness is pro-
vided for. The usefulness Of the aver
age dairy COW does not cover q period
Of more than eight years. For various
reasons animals are continually drop
ping out or being discarded. Not fewer
than 10000 cows are needed to replace
those that will finish their profitable
work in the herds Of Oregon this year
and furnish the necessary increase.
tThese must be secured either by
purchasing outside the state or by rails
ing heifer calves. Some dairymen de-
pend upon purchase and others raise
calves enough each year to keep ul
the number in the herd.
"If these 10000 cows were as much
superior to their dams as they could be
made by proper methods Of breeding
this state would soon attract the atten
ton Of the whole world because Of thu
high average production of its dairy
COWS. The aim Of the breeder should
not be merely to secure reproduction
but to secure animals that are superior
to their ancestors.
"In bringing about this improve
ment it is not necessary to establish
new types or breeds. The Jerseys
Holsteins, Guernseys, and Ayreshires
respond favorably to our conditions.
"The first step in Improvement is t
stop at once the crossing Of breeds an
the use Of grade or scrub bulls. Their
is not much hope of improving herd
by buying cattle, for not often do ou
neighbors wish to sell their best cattle
Further, the time, expense and labo
involved in hunting stock are almoi
prohibitive to busy farmer. Whez
the standard Of production is maintain
ed by purchasing cows to keep up th
herd there is grave risk of introducin
tuberculosis or other contagious disease
into the herd.
''Our easiest, quickest and most ga
isfactory method of improving our dair