The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-31
IDAHO RECOGNIZED GREAT
PROSPECTIVE DAIRY STATE
Good Work Being Done by Cow Test
ing Association.

Idaho is fast coming to be recogniz-
ed by dairy specialists from all over
the United, States as a state full OF
possibilities in dairying. We can pro-
duce fine grass pasture, high yields OF
ensilage, we have an excellent climate,
in fact, we have everything here that
tends to make dairying profitable ex-
cept the dairy COW herself
In checking up on dairy cows we
figure that the calf and the manure
| from the cow will pay for the labor OF
care and milking. If dairy COW pays
expenses then she must produce
enough milk and butter fat to pay for
depreciation. If she does better than
this she is profitable COW. for in
stance: if dairy COW is worth SIS
she must produce $3.50 to cover in
terest; $l075 to cover depreciation;
and at least $500 to cover the cost
of feed per year; or a total of $43.25
to pay for expenses. This means LIS
pounds of butter fat per year at an
average price of Csc per ID. or its
equivalent in milk. The average Idaho
dairy COW produces about l20 TBS. OF
butter fat per year, at value of only
$50. In other words, the average COW
in Idaho is being MIXED at loss to
the owner.
In order to weed out these unproht-
able cows, cow testing association
has been formed among the dairymen
of North Canyon and East Malheur
counties, and another is being formed
in South Canyon and Ada counties.
These associations are to be governed
by board of directors who will hire
a competent man to do the testing of
the cows of the association.
In Canyon Malheur county COW test
ing association, this tester will begin
work not later than April LIST. He will
spend one day each month with each
member of the association. and will
weigh and test the milk from each
COW entered for the test for two milk
ings and enter this as the average rec
ord for the month. Then he will check
up on the quantity, kind and cost of
feed consumed by each COW and from
this figure what it costs per pound to
produce butter fat from each cow test
ed, also what the returns from each
COW has been for each dollars worth
of feed consumed A separate record
will be kept for each COW in a record
book furnished by the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture. At the end of the
year the tester will check up on the
total profit or loss on the cow for the
year. For this work the nominal sum
of $l.50 per COW per year will be
charged by the association.
Over 400 COW testing associations
have been formed so far in the United
States and in every association, not
less than 208o of the cows entered
were found to be improbable and were
sold at the end of the first years test
ing. Right here is the source of a
number of Idaho's poor cows. 1t is
not uncommon to find one COW in a
herd producing butter fat at cost of
15c per pound and another producing
it at 35c per pound. A great many
dairymen would make twice as much
money if they would sell half of their
cows. Records good and bad made by
cows in the two associations will be
published in The Tribune as soon as
obtainable and much good toward the
dairy industry of South Idaho is sure
to result.
w. T. Mccall. Co. Agent.