The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-10-16
State College
Farm Letter

Without a liberal supply of wat
er the dairy COW cannot make the
best use Of her feed, declares j.
0. Tretsven, extension dairy spec
ialist at Montana state college. A
large COW, well fed on dry feeds
and producing heavily will drink
from $50 to 200 pounds of water
daily.
With cold weather coming, the
matter of watering the dairy cow
becomes very important. The COWS
must have access to water several
| times daily, Tretsven ayers. The
disadvantage of watering COWS
only once daily under ordinary
farm conditions, is that they re-
ceive a severe chill due to the
| consumption Of a large amount of
cold water at one time. This very
frequently is detrimental to the
production of milk. Cold weather
alone has little effect on the pro-
duction of milk provided the ami
mails are well fed and have fire.
quent acces to water.
Dairymen who have warm barns
and water under pressure have had
splendid results with the individ-
nal watering cups. Some have stat
ed that the system pays for is
self by increased production in
a years time Another system,
hut which involves a considerable
amount of work consists in run
ming the water through a concrete
manger night and morning after
the manger has been swept clean.
Another plan of watering which
Tretsven says is gaining in popu-
larity is the providing of tanks
| near the cow shed. Under this
plan the cows are run loose in a
large, well bedded and comfortable
shed. The water is next to the shed
and tank heaters are provided to
take off the chill and prevent the
water from freezing.
Getting water to the dairy cows
often enough and not too cold is
highly important if heavy produc-
ton is desired, cautions Tretsven.
A practical system can be worked
out for any farm and can be com
ple.ed before winter sets in with
little expense.
Has Best Layers
Thomas r. Bennett of Somers,
gained first place honors in class
"A" with his flock of 216 white
leghorns by averaging IS eggs per
hen during the month of August,
according to Miss H. e. Cushman,
extension poultry specialist at
Montana State college. Glass "B"
honors go TO the white plymouth
rock flock owned by Mrs. George
McHoes, Plevna, with a produc-
ton average of 1875 eggs per hen
for the month. Glass "a" flocks
have 100 hens or over and class
"B" have less than 100 hens.
Reports of the work done on
each of the poultry demonstration
farms are sem TO Miss Cushman
at the end of every month and a
summary of all Of them are in turn
sent back to each flock owner. In
the report for August is a compari-
0 of flocks that reached the
200-egg mark each year for the
last three years. Up to the end
of August 1929 the number of eggs
per hen was 1881. Through Aug
ust 1880 the number of eggs per
hen was 1911 and through August
of this year the number reached
by the leading flock was 202.9
eggs. The average eggs per hen
per month during 1929 was 1873.
This dropped to 1853 during 1880.
According to Miss Cushman,
most poultry flocks are melting
and a considerable falling off in
production a be expected in Sep
TENDER and will probably carry
over for some time.
One of the important problems
arising during August was a treat
ment for lice. Miss Cnshman is adj
yjsing p%oultrymen that for indi-
vidual treatment good results can
be obtained with sodium flouride.
A number of flock owners use
"Blackleaf-40" for flock treatment
with excellent results but some
object to the cost of such treat
ment. This objection can be met
by following directions carefully
which lea spraying only a very
thin stream along the roost just
before roosting time. Another
treatment which Miss Cushman
recommends is waste crank case
oil thinned down to the consisten-
cy of paint with a mixture Of five
percent crude carbolic added. This
last mixture should not, however.
be used around nests as it will
faint the eggs, Miss Cushman
warns.
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West Side Sand Creek 4