The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-23
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WEED OUT POOR
COWS TO CHECK
BUTTER SURPLUS
Use of More Dairy Products
by Farmers Would Boost
Butterfat Prices.

Use of more of their own products
by dairymen and their families i'm
mediate wedding out of the two poor
est producers among every eighteen
cream" cows, and the application of
newer farm production methods to
the dairy business. are the three
points" Of the remedy suggested by
the De Laval Bureau of Dairying to
overcome the surplus butter situation
which today confronts the dairy in
dustry.
The immediate cause of the situa-
ton is the presence in the nations
cold storage warehouses of approx
mately 100000 more pounds of
butter than Is considered normal.
This surplus is being reflected in. the
price of butter, which in turn Is hav-
ing its effect on the price received by
the farmer for his butterfat.
Dairy Profits Steady.
"Of all the branches Of agriculture"
says the De Laval Bureau, clarifying is
one Of the steadiest, year after year.
Wherever good farm management is
used profits are notably constant. Oc-
casionally, however. factor like the
40.632, 900 more pounds of butter in
storage this year over the same period
last year, is causing some farmers to
believe that the dairy business is be-
ing Overdone. This need never be the
case since the dairy farmer himself
can WELD a powerful influence on a
number of factors affecting the pro-
duction and cost of dairy products.
"Forty million extra pounds Of but
ter seems huge amount. but the peo-
pie living on farms alone could con-
sumo this amount in less than six
weeks by merely eating the amount Of
butter recommended for health's sake
by the National Dairy Council and ad-
vised by nutrition authorities-two
pounds per person per month. AT this
same tate of consumption farm folks
themselves In another eleven weeks
would consume all Of the butter in
storage and not leave single pound
for trade.
weed Out Boarders.
"But perhaps the most effective
measure dairymen hold in their own
hands is cutting down the number of
milk cows to those which are profit
able producers. There are approx
mately 100000 cows in the United
States that are kept for the produc-
ton of butterfat. OF this number Of
cream cows, almost 100000 are out
and out money losers. They not only
represent a loss of feed to their own
ers but at present produce just enough
butterfat to create an excess supply
and force down market prices. The
disposal Of one out Of every eighteen
of these 100000 cream cows, or bet
ter still. the wedding out of the two
poorest producers among every eight
cen cows. will automatically prevent
any excess storage stock over nor
NAL. There has never been more
favorable time for culling out the
mOney-losers and selling them for
beef, which is now bringing good
prices.
"The temporary accumulation Of
butter in storage was undoubtedly the
cause of the drop in the price paid for
butterfat. But for every cent drop in
price an equal amount could he saved
through better feeding. Raising as
much low-cost. high-protein feed on
the farm as possible Is commend
able practice that works toward this
end. Another is for every farm,
whether selling whole milk or not, to
separate enough cream for home use
and provide sk:mmilk for feeding
calves. hogs and poultry"