Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-04-13

Too Many Scrub Animal. Being
MIXED at Too High Produe-
ton Cost

ton Cost
Minnesota, third dairy state in the
union, and first in production of but.
ter, is losing money on its cows, &C.
cording to figures in government re-
ports, quoted by B. D. Scott, secretary
Of the Minnesota Holstein Breeders
association. Our attention was called
to this by David Swenson of the Kan
diyohi County Holstein association.
The reason given is that too many
so-called scrub cows are being MIXED,
at a cost exceeding their productive
value each year. The bringing of the
National Dairy show to Minnesota this
. year is hailed as means of educating
the farmer and dairyman to the need
of better cows. Mr.. Scott does not
argue for pure bred herds on every
farm, but he does urge the keeping of
high grade COWS and pure bred sires
as the first step toward profit in dairy
ing.
Better Than Other States
Figures, given by Mr.. Scott show,
that Minnesota, despite the fact that
it is not making net profit from the
dairy, is in a better position than
many other states. For instance, the
average production of butter fat per
COW in the United States is 1873
pounds per year. In Minnesota the
average is 100 pounds. 1t is estimat-
ed that one-third of Minnesota's cows
show a profit, one-third break even,
and one-third show loss.
The value of dairy products in the
state in 1920 was $3.50, 761, 127.07, as
compared with the production of iron
ore, placed in round numbers at $115,-
100000 1t is estimated, however, that
it cost 5000, 100000 to produce the
dairy products, the net loss being more
than $3O,ooo,o0o.
High Grades Necessary
To bring this production to a profit
average COW must produce ECO pounds
Of butter fat per year. This, Mr..
Scott contends, can be accomplished
by the keeping of high grades as a
start, and that by using pure bred
sires the profit can be increased.
Comparative figures show that in
1919 Minnesota had produced 1876
204 pounds of butter, or SO, PSI ST.
pounds more than Iowa, the second
state
There are 23,4OO,O0O COWS in the
United States, but only "a per cent
of these are pure breds. The champion
COW is owned in Minnesota, and she
produced 1884 pounds of milk in one
year. The average Minnesota COW
produced 3,7O0 pounds Of milk. While
Minnesota has a high average for
profit making COWS, only one-third are
making a profit.
Holland Cited Example
To get rid of the losing COWS, and
increase the production Of the middle
class is the goal Of dairy experts of
the state. Holland is cited as an
example. That country has an aver
age production per cow of 400 pounds
of butter fat. That production in
Minnesota would mean a net profit
each year for the farmer of 5000, CO0,-
OO0
The government reports shows Min
nesota's strides in the industry in
other ways In 1910 the state had
1,0S5,3SS COWS. Figures for 1910 for
other leading states are: Wisconsin,
1,473,5O5; New York 1,509,594: Iowa,
1.406,792; Texas, 1,013,S67; Illinois,
1,521.323; Pennsylvania, 933 $40
In 1919 the figures show Minnesota
has passed Iowa, and made a gain
\ while other states show a decrease
The figures are: Wisconsin, 1,S46,O 900;
New York, 1893, 0CO; Minnesota, 1895
900; Iowa, 1,353,00O; Texas, 1,13S,00O
Illinois, 1,060,OO0; Pennsylvania, go,
900