The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-13
COW TESTING
SHOWS WHICH
ANIMALS PAY
Cows in Flasher Circuit Show
Average Production of 258
Pounds Last Year

North Dakota farmers would make
$28 ,OOO, 900 more from their dairy cows
each year if all cows were tested for
placed with good ones, according to
A. NJ. Challey, dairy extension work
er Of the North Dakota Agricultural
college.
Mr.. Challcy bases his estimate on
the actual records Of the members Of
the Flasher Cow Testing association,
showing an average production Of
2b8 pounds Of butterfat per COW last
year, whereas the average for all cows
MIXED in the state was only l4O
pounds. At 40 cents per pound for
butterfat, the average COW produces
$63.85 worth of butterfat in year
ut a feed cost, according to farmers
records, of $24.44, leaving an income
above feed cost Of S39.Il.
With u production of from $50 to
3C0 pounds, the Flasher cows produced
butterfat in 1926 valued at $126.lS
each with un average feed cost OF
1888, leaving an income above feed
cost Of $9235 per COW. The Flasher
COWS gave an average return above
feed costs amounting to $54.94 more
than is the average for all cows in
the state. The number of cows kept
for milk in the state is $4,000, and
if all produced as well as the Flasher
COWS. the increased income above
feed cost would amount to $2s. 05S, 200.
Six Testing Associations
There are six regular COW testing
associations in the state with ], 464
cows on test. In addition, ,24s COWS
have been tested for "A year or more
through modified testing systems,
making total of 2.7l2 cows on test,
or one-half OF one per cent of all the
milk cows in the state.
Mr.. Challey has coOperated with
county extension agents in the state
during the past year in organizing
seven COW testing associations on the
Illinois plan, and the members now
have on test $50 cows. Under this
plan, the expense of testing is neg
ligibie, as the farmers take their own
samples and forward them TO II CEN
trail point for testing. thus eliminat-
ing the expense OF tester paid TO
visit the farm.
Testing Of each COW for the
amount Of milk produced and the per-
centage Of butterfat and elimination
of the l.w producing animals is the
only wiz that % farmer can realizo
the mas mum profit from his herd,
Mr.. ChAllcy declares. 'The differ
ence in the cost Of keeping good
cow and poor one is very. small.
The difference in the return from
q good COW and a poor COW IS very
large.
Feed Cost Figures
"For example, the average feed
cost for cows producing less than
$50 pounds of butterfat is almost
tvo-thirds as much as the feed cost
for cows producing $50 to 800 pounds
of butterfat.
"The value Of all buttcrfat pro.
duced in North Dakota in year ut
the rate of 40 cents per pound at
present would be $29,6SO,OOO, since
there are $4,000 cows averaging l4u
pounds. Ii the cows averaged as well
M those in the Flasher association,
the same number would produce but
terfat valued at $54 500, 600.
1.-THE return above feed cost, on the
40 pound basis, amounts to $2O,8S5,
AGO in a year. On the basis OF the
higher producing cows, the return
above feed cost would be $48,945,5OO
or more than twice as much.
.rh.- experiences Of the members
If these COW testing ASSOCIATIONS
teaches u lesson applicable TO al.
agricultural activities. Increased
production does not necessarily mean
increased profit. Efficiency in pro-
duction is essential for maximum
profit"