The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-03-21
u. HOLSTEIN HERD
GETS MUCH PRAISE
GREAT HERD DEVELOPED FROM
R0ALL FOUNDATION-EXA
FOR IDAHO FARMERS.

FOk lDAHO EAKMEkS.
BY OREN A. FITZGERALD.
(In The Idaho Farmer.)
Il haven't the money to go int
purebreds.
Purebreds are only for rich men,"
When the average farmer makes the
above statements, as he often does
he is talking from his conviction; but
after all, is the purebred game
only for the rich man?
Building up creditable dairy hero
In face of such obstacles, as limited
capital, isolation from other purebreG
breeders, and inadequate stabline
facilities has been accomplished by
the University Of Idaho with It's Hol-
stein herd, which stands as one OF
the best college Holstein herds in
America. The life story of this Hol-
stein herd is such that any farmer
can start on conservative basis as
did the university, to develop pure
bred herd of which any breeder might
we'll be proud.
Told Herd History
Not long ago the farmers of the
Camas Prairie country, in Idaho
county, held general get-together
meeting at Grangeville and invited the
university to send member of the
college of agriculture faculty to meet
with them. 1t fell to the lot of Pro-
fessOr F. w. Atkeson, head of the
dairy department, to make the trip
and as that section had been show
ing considerable interest in bettering
the grade of dairy stock his main
theme was dairying.
1t was well that Professor Atkeson
should have been chosen to say the
first words in behalf of a compara-
lively new industry in that section,
for his tire1ess efforts since he came
to the university less than two years
ago have been in large measure re-
sponsible for the present perfection
OF the Holstein herd of which the in
stitution and state are mighty proud.
Professor Atkeson told of the possi-
ibflftfes Of dairying, citing examples
from southern Idaho sections, and
urged entering the game y on a con-
servative basis, paying attention to
careful breeding as a means Of de-
velOpment. His advice to that group
of farmers was nothing more than a
resume of the steps through which
the university had already gone in
building up its Holstein herd in face
of the many hurdles which the aver
age farmer feels can not be jumped.
From a Small Start
From an initial investment of few
hundred dollars in foundation fe-
males the Holstein herd has been en-
larged to 33 females and two bulls
The valuation of the herd Is given at
$4,000, an extremely conservative
figure. Very recently an offer of
$1,000 was made for the senior herd
bull, grandson of one of the foun-
dation COWS and sired by bull which
the university leased during those
days when there were no funds avail
able to purchase a herd sire. Al
though this herd is one of the best
college herds in the country it has
been developed at remarkably low
cost.
AS mentioned before this herd has
been developed under circumstances |
very adverse and with money almost |
as limited as it is on the average
farm today. There were not suffici-
ent funds for the purchase of any
great number of foundation animals,
although the authorities realized fully
the need for establishing good dairy
herds in a state which was rapidly
coming to the front in dairy products.
It was fortunate, however, that among
he few foundation females purchased
1t first there were two exceptional
COWS. Those two have since earned
| place in the university hall of fame
llong with the other heroes hon
,red for services in behalf of a grow
ng institution.
Leased Young Bulls
szs
many females as were desired the
purchase of high-class bull was COM
'letely out Of the question, so all
mercy was concentrated on the pur- {
hasing of breeding COWS. By CO. {
perating with the larger northwest j
'reeders in leasing high-class young
ulls the university solved the prob t
EN- of getting good blood into the {
Inspiring without the expense Incl I
entail to purchasing a herd bull. This {
arrangement was possible through {
he desire of the breeders to have !
heir young bulls tested before using /
hem on their own herds. BY paying {
nominal fee the university benefited
, the use Of the bull and the breeder '
ad him tried and held in reserve S
1thout expense {
At present there is but one COW l
! the Holstein herd that was not O
red on the university farm.
Alaska Yukon Colantha (126465) '
nd Cascade Violet Cornucopia (1O3- y
l7), the two females retained from v
le first few purchased for founda- i
on purposes. have been outstanding v
! the Holstein herd development. I
he main contribution of Cascade y
toilet Cornucopia was her daughter, t.
aho Violet Posch Ormsby (337275), il
hose blood dominates almost SO per a
mt of the pedigrees of the present
srd animals. Alaska Yukon Colan- IL
"a, or old Colantha, as she is known P
: those who have been associated s,
ith the herd during the long stages h
development, is now 1S1s years H