Imperial Valley press., 1923-06-12
BY JOHN w. SCOTT
of Ell Centro
Life Member of the Ayrshire Bread-
6rS A AsSnoi atinn

CTS LASSOSldblOl
1T has afforded me much pleasure
and considerable interest following
reports of the Contrasting Associ-
alton which has been advanced hy
Farm Advisor De Tart is It great
step in the Improvement OF our dairy
interests throughout the valley and
in time will show what profit
making basis means to cur dairy
man and even greater Importance tc
the community at large.
Production records take all chance
of speculation out Of dairying.
This cow testing aims to do fer the
grade cow what advanced registry
has done for the purcbred; il raises
the average daily production of our
valley cows and the average yearly
profits of our dairyman.
Dust TIC ,scrub Cow
To further these efforts, ] would
ike to see an intensive campaign
conducted in which every scrub bull
was ousted by aFpurebFed sire, and
in every case the scrub sent to he
butcher; for the grade COW viii be
our main dependence for dairy pro
duction for generations, but to get
her we must have the purebred sire.
In the promotion of the cow test
ing work, it would be of great ben
eft. to have special drives and spe
cial meetings, for the purpose of
discussion and addresses at which
gatherings of dairymen, bankers and
busines men couid be brought, in
contact and papers prepared giving
analysis of actual production. Costs
of operation on say , 70 10 Of the
highest producing dairies could be
given and in this way give undis-
putablc proof of this cow testing,
its. value to the dairyman and to the
community.
The dairyman has his task to per
form for he must produce a cOmmo-
dity on 4 profit making basis; he
also mast be progressive and pro
dueea commodity of@a high stan
dard. Special sanitary precautions
must be used in the handling ef this
product. Thus, the dairyman has
his obligation to the public and IN
the performance of what is due to
himself and family must Ire progress
sive.
Again ! say, he needs encourage
ment for. he must be shown the way
to replace the poor COWS with bet
ter and the better with the best-so
! that his product will be of the high
est standard and his article should
command prices as high as the
people will cheerfully pay.
Should ISSUE Certificates
1t should also be feature of the
COW testing association to issue cer-
tificates for all animals that qualify
and publish year book giving this
information concerning each animal
and also give to the public the
names of dairymen who are mem.
bers of this association in the yearly
bulletin. ,a9atsaT
/ admit that ali good COWS are
not purebreds, nor are all purebreds
good COWS but | do say that little
progress can be hoped for through
the scrub.
DO not overlook that a careful
scrutiny is necessary as to the feed
ing records of the cows entered in
the register of production, for i'll the
increased production you will sec
that the cows are literally fed
Forced feeding is not to be recon-
mended and undertaking is one OF
the great sources of loss to the
dairyman. 1t needs close attention
on the part of the feeder and con
tinual study of the individual ami
= mails for it is only a good dairyman
who knows his own cows. That is
one of my reasons favoring soiling:
it is a common error to feed all
alike regardless of need or capaci
ty.
In selecting cows, our dairymar
should look first for health and Wig
or along with the signs of milk tend
enc;es-a clear and full but placid
eye; a soft hide, a capacious uddei
not meaty and with even quarters
large and well sprung body
wedge shaped, Symmetry and fine
ness of bone indicate breeding but
this should not be sought at the eX
pense of strength.
Now, that records are available
buyers should inquire and look into
the performance of relatives, partic
uarly the dam and daughters OF the
sire.