The Republican journal., 1918-02-21
DAIRY PRODUCTION.

AT time when so m uCn is Delne SAID
of the need of increasing the output OF
all food products, it is especially peril
nent to call attention to the need of
greater efficiency and economy in dairy
management. The mich COW is the
most economical agent known for chang
ing raw material into the animal fats so
necessary for human food. The average
COW produces in her lifetime as much fat
as seventeen sterrs) Our problem is to
so run this machine as to insure a con-
tinued supply of these essential foods.
To be of real value to the community
or nation, the manufacture of any food
must give product more valuable than
the raw materials and labor costs involv-
ed in the process. That is, any attempt
to persuade the farmer to make milk.
cream or butter regardless of cost, simply
defeats its own end. First, because the
resulting product is less valuable than
the cost of production. Second, because,
in the long run, if dairying does not pay,
the average farmer. will go into some
other line of business. To make dairy
ing pay its essential part in the present
food crisis, we must put it on a sound
business basis.
Economical production is secured in
two general ways: By increasing the
output and by reducing the cost per unit.
At time of such high feed and labor
charges, only the best cows can be profit
able All boarders should be weeded out
by the aid of Test Associations or private
testing. Herds SO selected should be
handled to give the longest possible SER
vice in both milking and breeding. Such
practices as using up cows in one or two
forced productions must be stopped if our
present herds are to be maintained. FL
nally, the dairyman cannot afford to let
the present cost of feed prevent his rails
ing all promising heifer calves.
To some extent, feeding expenses can
be reduced by the judicious substitution
of home grown feeds, notably, early-cut
clover, hay and silage for the more expen-
sive purchased grains. However, in his
desire to lower the cost of feeding, the
experienced feeder will not lose sight of
the fact that a heavy milking COW can
not eat enough of these feeds alone for
profita BILE production The economical
ration combines a reasonable amount of
concentrates with high quality home
grown roughage.
AS the labor cost of caring for COWS is
practically equal to the cost of feed, any
saving in that line is now doubly i'm
portant In large herds, milking ma
chimes can often save the time of one or
more men. Improved stabling and water
ing arrangements may do much to re-
duce overhead charges, and every dairy
man should carry as many cows as pos
sible for the help employed.
Prices sufficient to cover the greatly
increased cost of making dairy products
are necessary to assure a continued sup
ply during the war. Milk, we cannot do
without, and everyone who has consid-
cred the matter will agree that dairymen
have not in the past made even fair in
tereSt on their investment. This fact,
however, is no valid excuse for waste
fulness or inefficiency in dairy manage
ment. In dairy products, as in all the
necessaries of life, the public now has
right to demand the most possible for its
money and, in giving this, the dairyman
insures the future prosperity of his own
business while he supplies one on his
country's most pressing needs.
Public Safety Committee on Livestock
Production and Feeding.