Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-07

ment also has held a number of meet
ines at different dairies for the discus
sion of subjects important to the in
dustry. Improved methods and equip
ment have been studied, and cattle
Judging contests and other demonstra-
tions given. In February, 1922, an un-
usually successful series of meetings
was held by cooperation of this depart
ment, the Agricultural Extension Serv-
ice and the California Dairy Council.
The meetings were held in Lancaster,
Van Nuys, ut the Los Angeles county
farm and at Pomona, for the accommo-
dation Of dairymen in all parts of the
county. An exceedingly practical pro-
gram was provided covering feeding,
the production Of clean milk, tubercu-
losis control, sterility and abortion.
The meetings were all well attended.
Calf Club Work
In our study of dairymen 8 problems
we have not neglected the conservation
Of the farm g most important product,
our boys and girls. In cooperation with
the Holstein Breeders Association and
the county club leader, our committees
have assisted in judging entries in the
calf club contest and in preparing the
rules under which the contest will be
conducted. The calf club members
were guests at the annual guaranty
sale of Holstein cattle and the two-day
sightseeing trip which followed. They
have been supplied with reading mat
ter which should further their interest
in good cattle and help them in the
feeding and care of their entries. We
try to make them feel our very real
interest in each of them.
The national movement for better
sires was brought home to our member
dairymen long ago, but there is still
MORE
room for improvement in other herds in
the county. All members of our de-
partment are now using registered
bulls, the majority Of them being Sc
lected from unusually high producing
families so that further Improvement
in the herds is practically certain. A
great proportion of the members herds
are headed by sons of cows making 700
to 1000 pounds of fat in yearly test.
Probably the most vital problem now
demanding solution of our local dairy
men is the control of bovine tubercu
! losis, upon which we are collaborating
with the Milk Producers Association
the Southern California Holstein-Fries
| ian Association and the local Veteri
marian Society. The best method OF
attack seems to be:
!. Legal prevention of the ship
ment of tuberculous cattle into this
county except for immediate slaughter
2. Requirement that all cattle test
ed in this county and found to be tn
berculous, must be branded in a speci
| fled and conspicuous manner.
3. Securing from distributors anG
consumers a differential price in favor
Of milk and cream produced in tuber
culosis.free herds.
III Of these methods have been tried
and found successful in different parts
Of the country. Their enforcement
should prevent any increase in tuber
| culosis animals within the county
| identify reactOrs now in the county
for the buyer protection, and provide
| a real economic stimulus toward elm
inatiOn Of disease. An ordinance con
tanning the first two provisions ant
authorizing quarantine for enforcement
was prepared and presented to the board
OF supervisors with the approval of the
several organizations mentioned, but
has not yet been passed. We expect t.
press this matter until this great men
ace to the public health and the safety
| OF our herds is removed.