The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-18
RESEARCH IS CAUSE
OF GREAT GROWTH
IN LAST 3 DECADES
Science Has Enabled Farmer to
Treble Cows Production
Since 1850 =
ORGANIZATION CAME FIRST
Movement to Eradicate Tuber-
culosis From Cattle Was
Important Step
ORGANIZATION CAME FIRST

important Step
washington. y. c., March 49,
NEA)-Dairying, mushroom of the
agricultural industry OF the United
States, is fast becoming EARNINGS big
gest asset and promises to outrank
any other branch of the industry. The
cause. according to the United States
bureau of dairy industry. Is research.
1t is only within the last 30 years
that science has played such an i'm
portant part in %dairying. Previous to
1900 the production of milk on farms
of the country was just a sideline,
and a costly sideline at that, on many
farms.
But today dairy farming is a spe-
cialty and farmers talk of proved sires,
butterfat content, incubation against
tuberculosis, cooperative marketing as
sociations, production research labora-
tories, and herd improvement associ-
ations.
The future of the dairy industry
will depend very largely upon research
work and upon the general application
Of the results in commercial practice
is the way o. E. Reed. chief of the bu-
reau of dairy industry. puts it. He ex-
plains that the bureau is constantly
at work conducting research along the
following lines:
Take in All Angles
Breeding. feeding and management
Investigations; herd improvement in
designations: research laboratories:
manufacturing Investigations; market
milk Investigations; engineering: CO.
operative extension and information.
In 1850 the average yearly produc-
ton of milk per COW in the country
was 1896 pounds. BY 1900 this figure
had been raised to 3,646 pounds, and
in 1927 it was increased to 1900
pounds, at which figure it stands to-
day.
Organization. according to the bu-
reau of dairy industry. was the first
move necessary to increase the quail
ity and quantity Of milk production.
To organize farmers all over the
country was a huge task, but through
such agencies as field representatives
and agricultural schools this was done.
The dairy farmers responded and
formed the Dairy Herd Improvement
association, which increased in num-
Der from 1853 in 1918 to l,143 at pres
ent. These organizations foster the
better principles of selection, breeding.
feeding and management OF dairy
herds.
Results Readily Seen
Research worked out In the depart
ment was then impaired to these
farmers, and the results have been
evident in the increased milk and but
terfat production Of COWS all over the
country.
One OF the major steps in improving
the quality of milk in the country
was the introduction of the movement
to eradicate tuberculosis in the COWS
Of the country. This movement. COM
paratively new, has weeded out thou
sands Of cows.
The dairy-herd improvement idea is
gaining all over the country. Although
only a little more than 2 per cent OF
%, soc, 900 dairy animals In the United
States are under test now. this per-
centage is increasing rapidly. In this
respect the United States is well down
the list in comparison with n
countries, being excelled by Denmark,
Netherlands. Scotland. Sweden. Fin
land. Germany. Norway, England,
Austria. and Ireland.
All parts of the country have bene-
fitted from the progress OF the dairy
industry, which at present Is located
chiefly in the north central states OF
wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa. Nebraska.
Ohio. Indiana, nlinosi Michigan, the
Dakotas, and Kansas, and the western
states of California, Oregon, n
Washington.
It is also noted that dairying l n the
south has increased considerably with
the dairy-herd improvement Idea.
Money From By-Products
One of the indirect benefits OF the
research in dairying is the develop
ment of the ~by-productS OF milk.
Years age farmers were content to sell
their milk. butter and cheese, with
little emphasis on the latter product.
Today, In addition to having built
a huge industry out Of the production
of cheese, farmers are realizing v
nue. from the following b~y-products
of milk: casein, q substance used
chiefly for the coating of paper to
produce a better printing surface;
skinned milk, evaporated milk, but
termilk, and whey
Today about ~one-fourth, or $3,00O,-
600 600 of the total annual income re-
ceived by American farmers tor all
farm products, is derived from the
sale of dairy products. This Is two
and a half times the value OF the oee1
and veal production, and more than
three times the value Of the wheat
o