Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-07-06

Fargo, N. D., july 3.-The New
Salem dairy farm inspection proved
a surprise to all that made it. None
had any idea that there was so much
good stock in any n locality in the
state. The farmers from the grain
hardly realize hat they were in the
state when they saw all the land
fenced and the fine herds of Holsteins
and large herds too and sc many of
them pure bred.
Eleven farms were visited in the
day. On each of these were a fine
herd bull and a GOD sized herd of
pure breds. Each of these farmers
have some grades too and some of
them have a few of the common ma
tive COWS. These they are gradually
the Holsteins are better producers. II
fact in the whole circuit of twelve
farmers the Holstcins hold the record
in spite of the fact that Some of the
common COWS are good mixers. They
have found that on an average the
hcifer OF the first cross produces so
pounds more butter than it's dam and
looks much like the Holstcin. The
second cross looks very much like
the Holstein, in fact in most cases it
would be impossible to tell the differ
ence.
Another striking fact was the milk
scale and milk sheet which was found
in every barn visited. When the farm
ers spoke of a O it was in terms Of
the number Of pounds of milk she
was giving a day or the butterfat that
she was producing. They have many
cows that are giving 60 to IS pounds
Of milk a day. One COW has given
$50 pounds of butterfat in a year.
The value of the butter above the.
cost of the feed vas Sis and in. ad-
dition to that more than five tons of
skim milk, a calf and the nj
These farmers will not keep a COW
that does not make a profit and by
their accounts with each COW they
know which are the good ones. The
keeping Of the records has also lead
to a study of the feeding. One farmer
raised the but5erfat production of his
herd from an average of 116 pounds
a year to 299 pounds in three years
and largely through the feeding and
care.
These farmers are all working to-
gether and learning from each other.
They nave found that they can make
more by having the COWS freshen in
the fall SO now they plan to have
the calves dropped in the fall from
September to December. In this way
they get the winter prices for the but
terfat, and have the heaviest work of
caring for the cows come in the win
ter when there is the most time. Thew
also have more time to care for the
calves. The COWS are run dry in fly
time when other work is the most
pressing.
The first cooperative enterprise
was a creamery which they started
over twenty years ago. They started
grain farming over thirty years ago,
but with poor results. They Went
more n more into debt, then they
went into COW raising and making but
ter. The trouble with this was that
they could get but little for their but
ter, there was too much variety. this
brought them together and a cream
cry was the result. 1t has been in
operation for over 20 years and has
never been shut down in all that time.
This was the beginning Of prosperity.
Fine homes and big barns have been
Quilt from the returns from the cream
sent to the creamery.
Instead of paying interest these
farmers are now drawing interest.
The st~andardizing Of their butter
brought a much better price. They are
now likewise standardizing their
stock and this will make it more valu-
able, 1t will bring the market to them.
II IS advertising their community.
They are making New Salem the Hol-
stein capital Of the northwest. The
fact that a buyer can visit ten to
fifteen herds in a day is a big item.
II ne Is to find ten to fifteen herds in
any other place he will have to visit
mat many towns and it will take a
couple Of weeks to do it and with no.
tel and livery expense at each place in
additlon to the loss Of the time. then
II the buyer should buy one or two
nead at each place it would be a big
9op to get them all together while at
New Salem he could buy them in a
DAY and in another day or two have
them all loaded at the n place.
Which means that he can afford to
pay more for Holsteins at New Salem
the place. ~
The New Salem breeding circuit
was started as a cooperative enter.
PRISE by the North Dakota Experiment
station the U. 8. Department Of Agri.
E #-.