The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1920-02-26
WITH EXTENSION PEOPLE.
Many Items of More Than Passing
Interest.

BY +. X. Cammack
Field Dairy man of the University Of
Idaho Extension Division.
1t has been estimated that at least
one-third of the so-called dairy cows
in the United States are not profitable
producers. Statistics tend to show
that the average dairy COW in Idaho
produces an average Of 100 pounds of
butter fat, which surely is not sufii-
cient to pay much of a profit over the
cost of production. From this and the
statement of many who are keeping
dairy cows of inferior quality, one
can readily believe that there is plen-
ty of improvement possible in Idaho
dairy cattle.
Naturally the first step must be to
know the relative standing of the
cows. There are those who claim to
be able to select dairy cattle by their
conformation and visible appearances,
and it is true that great progress has
been made in n study of these fac
tors, but the very best judges often
are shown to have been deceived in
their Judgment when the real test
that of the Babcock YESTERDAYS been
applied. Usually the very high pro
ducers and extremely low producers
can be selected, but not the great ma
jority Of the average cattle. There is
very little excuse today for not know
ing something definite of the produc-
ton of individual COWS since it is
possible to weigh and test the milk
at regular intervals through the cow
testing association or through testing
clubs, schools, or individual use OF
the testing outfits. The first command
| ment Of the dairyman should be
Know the production of your cows
Without this knowledge there can be
no definite assurance of progress
The next step Is to Gull out the
poor producers and breed for higher
production. This calls for constI'uc
tive plans and careful study. Two
per cent of the cattle in the United
States are bred to sires with know
ancestry, backed up by records of pro
duction. The excuse formerly given o
high cost, and difficulty of securing
good sires is no longer sufficient, witt
the increasing number of yearly rec
ords and the formation OF bull assc
Citations. The dairyman with 20 COW
or more often prefers to own his owl
bull and to follow a definite breedin
plan, such as line breeding, inbreedin
outcrossing, etc, but the dairyma
with only a few head does not fee
able to keep a good sire for his pei
sonal use. 1t is in such cases that til
bull association is of special value an
it is possible to organize an associ,
ton in nearly every community, pre-
vided the spirit Of cooperation is sui
ficiently developed.
The selection of the breed Is usual
Of less importance than the selectio
OF the individual cows and communit
cooperation. The marketing facilitie
and personal preference (if strongl
developed) will of course be factors
b considered. The great advantage {
breeding to bull out of a dam wit
a high record and which has an ance
| fru ~ Ennuyn
overestimated. If these bull associi
tions could be organized in every con
munity in Idaho where good bulls al
not available for breeding, no doubt IL
average production of our cows woul
be doubled in five years. Needless
say the records would have to be kel
up in order to Gull out successfully Il
poor producers.
The proper feeding care, and ma
agement are factors in the developmel
of the individual to the desired Or
ducing ability. This ability comes
a result Of study and its practical a
plication, because the feeds which v
have available are ideal for the gres
est development. In the words of
prominent dairyman from the caste
states, "The world records OF the (
ture will be made in the northweste
, states because OF the ideal feed al
: climatic conditions prevailing there
This is surely very encouraging and
can safely be said that the dairym.
. in Idaho has a very bright future.
, Briefly the rules for improving t
3 herd can be summed up as follows
. Keep production records of 20