Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22
COWS PAY FOR FEED.
Average Per Cow In Entire State ~
Pounds of Butterfat,

At the present prices of feed the ay-
erase production per COW Of 4, 800 pounds
OF milk or 10 Of butterfat just about pays
FOR fodder without any margin left over
for the owner. says F. H. Abbott, county
agent OF Washington, in bulletin this
week. Mr.. Abbott is trying by means Of
a QUESTIONABLE to And out what dairy con-
ditions are in the county In order to i'm
prove them. He writes:
"OD. Within the last two weeks Won
have received a circular with a list Of
questions which you were asked to answer
and return to this once. The object Of
this was plainly Get forth in the note
which accompanied the questions, namely,
to collect facts which will help the btu
reau in the work of improving dairy con-
ditions in Washington county. This
county contains over 1000 land owners
and nearly 10 per cent. OF them depend
upon the dairy COW as the main source Of
income: therefore. all that we can do to
Increase production and profit Of the dairy
COW is direct benefit to practically all
farmers. The average production Of all
COWS in the State is approximately 400
pounds OF milk or 100 pounds of butter
fat. Or just barely enough to pay for the
feed at market prices. and allowing lit
tie or no profit to the owner. On the
other hand, it takes all kinds to make
up the average. so there are many herds
with average records Of over 800 pounds
of butterfat per COW, with an accompany
Ing profit OF $50 per COW or better. Thir-
teen thousand cows, enrolled in % cow
testing associations In this State, have
an average production OF xs7 pounds Of
butterfat. with an average profit of APP
proximately 33l per year.
"(2). II the production of 10000 cows
(one-half the number In Washington
county, could be increased z pounds of
butterfat per COW. as Mr.. Walbridge has
done with his herd. it would net their
owners over Sl0S,00O in extra profit per
year. Think this over.
George X. Perrin of Berlin and 4.
Martinetti Of Barre have each recently
purchased pure bred Holstein bull calf
from the State farm herd at Waterbury.
The Barre MIX Producers association
continues to make good use Of the organ
ization. At a recent meeting, with two
thirds OF the membership present, 1t was
voted to maintain the present scale Of
prices OF milk to retailers until October
|. 1917
"As far az can be deduced from various
reports. potatoes will prove a profitable
crop for 1917. The supply OF good seed
Is short and high priced, and less fer
tilizer will probably be used than In past
years. indicating a minimum production.
II not a minimum acreage.
THE farmers OF Cabot, through their
club have ordered car of ground lime
stone to be delivered at Walden depot.
East Montpelier farmers are also making
arrangements for unloading a car in that
place.
THE alfalfa demonstrati lions are lining
up rapidly for the coming season. DO
YOU want to see one in your community"
" you do. talk with the member of the
advisory council in your section or with
the county agent
The New England VI. r. a. has already
owners OF over 10000 cows enrolled In the
association. 1t is good business prop
osition to become a member of this or
sahizNion. Barre milk producers have
round out what organization can do for
them. and they have Joined with 10 men,
bers and 800 cows