Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-09-16
Farmers Economy Cow Contest.

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The grade and native COWS of the
state are this year offered an unusual
opportunity by the state fair manage
ment. A contest designed to show the
ability of such COWS to produce dairy
products profitably has been arranged
and will be held in the model dairy
barn on the fair grounds, September
1916. Liberal cash prizes are offered
which should be attractive to anyone
having the least interest in trying the
quality of his cows against others.
In looking at Wisconsin's position
as great dairy state, the part played
by the humble grade or native is not
always remembered. 1t is forgotten
that these are responsible for four
hfths of the output of dairy products
that have made our reputation what
it is. They are also the practical fruit
of our development in breeding. If
our purebred herds are living up to
their opportunities for service to the
state, We may expect to find steady
Improvement in the quality Of our
grade herds.
1t will not be possible, for a good
many years at least, for every dairy
man to keep only only purebred. COWS.
1t may never be practicable to arrive
at such a condition of affairs. In the
meantime, the most important thing
for both dairyman and breeder is to
replace poor cows with better ones,
Labor costs more and feed costs more
than formerly. Why waste them on
inferior COWS?
In this farmers economy COW con-
test the fair is to have the co-opera-
ton Of the Wisconsin Live Stock
Breeders association, which will su-
pervise the feeding and milking, and
the animal husbandry department of
the college of agriculture will make
the tests. The event is expected to
close with a demonstration and lee
ture on the economical feeding of
dairy cattle by f. H. Scribner, who
needs no introduction to Wisconsin
dairymen.
The rules are as follows:
Ii
on the state fair grounds, West Allis,
September 1916, 1915.
Open to grade or native COWS of any
age, but each cow must have been in
milk at least 80 days prior to the be-
ginning of the contest.
No entry fee or stall rent will be
charged.
Cows to be MIXED dry in the pres
ence of the superintendent Of the cat
tie department Of the state fair or his
authorized representative, Monday
evening, September IS, the last milk
ing of the test to be at exactly the
same hour on Thursday, September Is.
Cows are to be MIXED not to ex-
coed three times daily.
Cows are to be fed by a representa-
tive of the Wisconsin Live Stock
Breeders association, according to di-
rections from the owner. and an ex-
act account kept of all feed consumed
during the contest. Owners may Sc
lect any feeds or combinations of
feed available which will be charged
at the average Milwaukee market
prices of the previous week.
No condiments or condition powders
may be fed during the test. nor any
medicine administered, except on the
advice of the official veterinarian.
Common salt may be given as desired.
Cows are to be MIXED only in the
presence of a representative Of the su-
perintendent, who will weigh and
record the yield and take such sam
pies as may be required for testing.
Tests for butterfat are to be made
daily and the COWS credited with their
production, against which will be
charged the cost of their feed.