American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-01
STOCKGROWING AND DAIRYING
ON j. ID. ISAAK RANCH

Wv Os ~ 1tD4tAh hA-NAH
Three miles northwest Of American
Falls ]. d. Isaak owns a ranch of $40
acres, mainly devoted to stockraising
and the growing If alfalfa and wild
hay. OF this acreage 800 acres are
under the Aberdeen-Springfield canal,
and 800 acres are in cultivation. The
balance is pasture. Mr.. Isaak's eff
forts are especially directed toward
raising high grade Red Durham and
Holstein cattle, more particularly the
former breed-they being more and
more recognized as the best dual pur-
pose stock. He owns a fine Red Dur
ham bull, one of the best in the coun-
ty. At present about 108 head of at
tie are on the ranch, forming the nue.
leus of what will in a few years be
one of the largest herds in the county.
This ranch is we'll supplied with hay
lands, both dry and irrigated. From
40 acres of irrigated alfalfa three an
nual crops are cut, the amount in
1917 being estimated from $50 to 100
tons. Last spring so acres additional
were seeded to alfalfa and the season
of 1918 will give at least two cuttings
therefrom. The newly-seeded alfalfa
last year grew to a height of Is to "a
inches. On this ranch the native non
irrigated prairie grass grows to a
good height and is easily cut. Last
veal about IL tons were cut and put in
stacks, and after cutting the wild hay
land furnishes splendid pasture for
COWS and horses.
Mr.. Isaak never deviates from the
rule of feeding his cattle-stock as
we'll as dairy cattle-from a manger
during the winter months. The stock
cattle are fed straw, while the dairy
herd is fed hay. A manger about 10
feet long has been constructed in the
barn and a part of it extends to the
exterior of the barn. The manger is
so arranged that the cattle can help
themselves to the p%rovender provided
at any time the spirit o them,
but it is impossible for them to waste
any of the hay or straw. They have
TO place their head in the manger to
get at the feed. The owner of this
ranch in this respect is following the
methods of feeding in his native coun-
try, Russia, and he is convinced that
il is the best method. Feeding hay or
straw on the ground is one of the most
wasteful ways possible. All the cattle
are on the home ranch. the pasture
lands being of sufficient acreage to
accommodate all of them. Up to the
present time Mr.. Isaak has been dis
posing of his beef cattle to the local
markets only, but in a few years he
will make extensive shipments to the
livestock markets IN the coast.
Good Dairy Income.
While the main object to be achieved
on this ranch is, as stated, the raising
of beef cattle, still the dairy feature
in the past has been of nearly equal
Importance. Up to October, 1917, from
20 to 25 COWS were MIXED on this
ranch, and the milk was retailed in
American Falls. The monthly revenue
derived from this source amounted to
from $3.50 to 5000 per month. After
the date mentioned the dairy herd was
reduced to eight head and the cream
was shipped to market. About eight
gallons per week are shipped and the
income therefrom amounts to from S4O
to $45 per month. The dairy herd Will
always be found on this stock ranch,
for the owner realizes fully that no
ranch in this county-or IN other
county, for that matter-can be consld-
cred to be a complete institution with
out it. His lands are favored by ma
ture in giving all the provender need
ed for both beef and dairy herds, and
it is only the part of wisdom to take
full Advantage of the opportunity given.
Besides growing alfalfa, cereals are
not overlooked. Last year 20 acres
were seeded to Bluestem as a nurse
crop for alfalfa on irrigated n
The wheat was seeded light, two pecks
10 the acre, and gave a yield of 70
bushels per acre. When this wheat
was threshed it tested out the full
standard No. 1 go pounds) and brought
5000 per 100 pounds at the elevator