The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-05-25
Are Raising Fine
Purebred Stock

BroadStairs ranch, SO named be-
cause of the manner in which the
land formation lies in the immedi-
ate vicinity, which is owned by Mr.
and Mrs. S. S. Nichols. is one of the
most picturesque homes in Lincoln
county
AS the stranger drives down the
hill from the main road he is inn
pressed with the beautiful land
scaping of the property surround
ing the main house and the ten
nant cottage Many gorgeous flow
ers dot the solid mass of well-kept
green grass. A small stream flows
through the yard adding much to
the setting.
The view west is typical of many
scenes in and about Libby, but there
is freshness present. that IS not
quite describabie.
In this unusual setting the Mich
OILS family have chosen TO raise
in Guernsey cows, Chester White
pigs and Shropshire sheep.
It was late in the year of 1897
when Mr.. Nichols purchased the
first IA head of cows and one bull.
After a while he added to the herd
by purchasing three head from New
port, Wn The latest addition is
composed of five cows which were
purchased at Cutbank The first
group came fresh year after they
were purchased and at the present
time q cows are being MIXED
Of the Il calves which have been
dropped II have been sold. Pur-
chasers are: Frank Hart, Absorkee.
one; O. B. Weter, Browning. one.
Marion Miller, Libby, four; Mr.. B.
0. Halverson, Turner, one, Fred
Cole, Lenore, Idaho, three and
Frank Brown of Laramie, Wyo.,
one. Each one of these sales has
brought substantial sum to this
stockman, and it is his sincere be-
lief that the only money to be made
out of the dairy business in this
country is through the sale of reg
istered stock Mr. Nichols said, ut
gives one a great satisfaction to
know that be is selling fine mer-
chandise and these Guernseys are
fine merchandise.
The milk of this breed of cows
is noted for its yelloWness and in
butterfat content ranks next to the
Jerseys, which are high producers
for all breeds. The owners of the
local herd feed dry hay all through
the winter and the butter still holds
the same fine yellow color as dur
ing the summer when the cows are
getting green feed.
Some of the cows run between as
and so pounds of milk a day but
after they are four or five years
old they will be better producers.
Mr. Nichols said that he had not
taken butterfat tests this year but
figures that they should run five
per cent or over. He intends to
take tests after the herd has been
put on green feed.
In order to take care of the sur
plus milk the owners of the ranch
purchased three registered Chester
White pigs, one boar and two gifts
IN the spring of 1888. To date they
have received six filters of pigs of
Which five have been sold from the
first group and 10 from the latter
The owners report that they also
have several unregistered pigs on
the ranch They say that there rs
very little demand for registered
pigs in Montana, therefore there is
really not much use raising them.
The large piece of land directly
IN front of the house and on the
flrst step contains 600 acres of fine
NJ
fences IN this pasture to regulate
the place in which RE wishes to
iced the stock He says that these
fences are very effective in regu-
lating the correct control Of the
pasture
All cows at Broadstairs are
MIXED by hand The owners of the
ranch believe that machines are Diet
rimental to the cows and do not do
the work as they are supposed to