The Ordway new era., 1920-08-13

morning ana evening aB II Is uTaWH
from the COVE. Tho time consumed
by this operation is negligible and
the dairymsn knows exactly what
each COW is doing and whether she is
maintaining her proper average OF
production or whether she is falling
behind. Tho average production per
day for each cow was as follows dur
ing the first six months of the year:
January. 30.4 pounds; February. 29.9
March. 28.7 pounds; April, 27.2
pounds; May. 28 pounds. June, 27.2
pounds; July, 27.2 pounds. You will
observe that the production decreas-
es as the weather gets warmer and
the flies increase. The cows are not
now being fed ensilage but are turn
ed out on the prairie pastures during
the day and this In large part ac-
counts for the decrease in milk pro-
duction. The fact that other herds in
the county are having the same thing
to contend with is shown by the fact
although the production for June was
only 27.2 pounds per day for each
COW. Mr.. Dickson's herd averaged
the highest in production per cow Of
any of the herds in Otero County
Testing Association.
The feed usually given consists of
beet pulp. enS!lage, alfalfa hay, oats
and corn. this ration being rated in
proper proportions to make fully
balanced ration. by the official COW
tester. They have figured out that
the cost of feeding a COW one month
IS $16.25. while the production per
COW is worth about $500 per month
for their best cows and about s46 for
the poorest COW, the others ranging
in between.
The figures on the cost OF produc-
| ing one hundred pound of milk were
as follows: January. s1.69; Febru-
airy. $1.9O; March. s165; April
s1.13; May. $3.50; March. s165:
April. s1.13; May, 81 cents June, rs
cents---the summer pasture reducing
the cost of the production.
Mr.. Dickson has a fine pure bred
Holstein bull with his herd, Monda-
men de Kol, which he purchased
from the Bellesplains farm near Pu-
eblo. Those of you who were pres
Ont at the dairy demonstration last
winter will very likely remember the
white bull calf that Professor Clark
used in demonstrating the good and
u hnA ut te -. I,< IL I~,,fv T. t..
s;xteen months old and gives promise
of making one of the best bulls in the
community. -
Mr.. Dickson is one of those who
are experimenting with the problem
of summer pasture under the auspic-
os of the county agricultural agent
and the state agricultural college.
The mixture he showed us'eonsisted
Of bronze grass, orchard grass, Italian
oats and medow fescue. This was
sown in the spring with oats as d
nurse crop. The destructive hail
which visited that community recent
ly. ruined the oats but the grass was
unanjured. The estimated return per
year from one acre of this mixture
of grass is $3.50, if fed into the cows
and the milk sold. After the grass
has been in year, it will form a sod
and can be pastured regularly, per-
petuating itself from year to year.
The problem of summer pasture is
an ever present one in this section of
the country and anpone working out
a solution will be great benefactor
However it begins to look as though
the question was about to be solved
MIR. Dickson has a neat dairy barn
which he had built last winter, 16x60
feet in dimensions and with room for
twelve cows and calf pens. 1t is fit
ted up so that fresh water is before
the cows in the barn in cold or
stormy weather. He has a sixty ton
siio and purchased another one this
summer. Owing to the destructive
hail which visited that vicinity re-
Gently is it doubtful whether he will
cut enough material to fill the sec
ond one.
In spite of the hail. Mr.. Dickson
said, he has Q comfortable check COM
ing in each month. while those in the
same territory whose crops were ruin
cd by the hail and who have no cows
to milk. are not so well off financially
One of tho best kinds of hail insur-
ance is a bunch of good dairy cows,
end then what little feed is saved
f-om such casualties can be used to
tho best advantage.
All in all, Mr.. Dickson is very well
satisfied with his venture in the dairy