Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-10-18

herd has still more need for records
for he depends for much Of his income
upon sales of young bulls and other
increase In the herd. 1t has been said
that the main business of the pure
bred breeder is the marketing Of dairy
bulls There is much truth in the
statement and in the future 1t will be
still more true. Purebred bulls are all
right No one should use any other,
but mere purity of blood is not enough
In these practical days when every
thing is expected to measure up to
some definite standard Of efficiency. 1t
is only too true also that some pure
breds fail woefully in delivering the
goods. These considerations have
made it increasingly difficult to dis
pose of young stock from INFESTED an
cestry at prices showing a profit, so
production records have become really
a necessity to the breeding herd.
The quality must be demonstrated
or the public is not willing to pay the
been squeezed out of the purebred
business and it is coming down to q
solid foundation of substantial facts
where the hard-headed commercial
dairyman can do business and can get
his moneys worth. We look for this
condition to continue and to be greatly
developed in the future. Heretofore the
purebred man has been let off quite
easily but indications are that much
more will be expected of him in the
future. 1t is only right that he should
realize his responsibilities more fully
as he is supposed to do. To do this
by mating animals intelligently and
giving them the kind of environment
necessary to proper development the
breeder needs records. Cow testing is
now essential to successful breeding
their selection, the key to their proper
feeding and the most potent means of
advertising the surplus for sale.
Test Should Be Systematic.
"How are COWS tested? For grade
herds, the method is not so important,
closely. The dairyman can do it him
self if he will. He can secure scales,
milk sheets, and BabcOck tester at
no great cost and can record the milk
yield of each cow daily testing COM
posite sample of say three days milk
about the middle of each month. This
is simple and doesn't take much time
but farmers, especially dairy farmers,
are busy men and find it more salts
factory to have this work done CO.
operatively. They join with their
neighbOrs in hiring tester who
spends a day at the farm each month
doing the testing, checking up the
feed, and figuring the profit or loss.
This is q cOW-teSting association and
| is the most economical and generally
satisfactory means of securing the
| benefits Of testing to dairy herd. Ev-
eryone who keeps enough COWS SO he
calls himself 'dairyman' ought to
hold continuous membership in one of
these organizations if possible. The
cost ranges from $1.OO to $3.50 a COW
per year, very moderate sum indeed
considering the service rendered.
"SOme most surprising facts have
been uncovered in this association test
ing. Instances where COWS that were
supposed to be among the best were
really among the least profitable, and
vice versa, are common. Serious err
rors in feeding have been shown up
and there are numerous cases where
almost complete change has been made
in management due to errors brought
to light by the test.
Sow testing is essential to dairy
advancement because it is the key to
dairy knowledge and there can be no
progress without knowledge. 1t I'M
locks the door to that intelligent inter-
est which is the main gallery leading
to success in any calling"