Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1912 — IMPORTANCE OF COW TESTING [ARTICLE]

IMPORTANCE OF COW TESTING

Careful Study of Records of Herd* In Test Indicate That Silage Is Very Essential. The Bnrean of Animal industry of the Department of Agriculture has two men specially engaged in giving assistance to state officials In organising and conducting cow-testing associations. During the last fiscal year 33 new associations were formed and seven were discontinued. There are now 81 such associations in this country, the greater number of which the dairy division has been instrumental in organizing. These 81 associations comprise about 40,000 cows. An official of the dairy division in talking of the work in this direction, showed Sr record of two herds In one of them* sociations as an Interesting example of wfiat is being accomplished in enabling farmers to keep records of cost, production, etc., and to detect and remedy; any shortcomings. In herd No. 1, 9,207 pounds of milk were produced at a cost of $51.04 for feed, while in herd No. 2, 5,482 pounds of milk wer produced at a cost for feed of $55.21. : The former made a profit of $76.22 per cow, while the other made a profit of only $8.65 per coV The more profitable herd was fed an abundance of silage, while to the other no silage was fed. This, of course. Is not the only reason for the difference; however, a careful study of the records of these herds indicated that silage is very essential. The owner of the unprofitable herd has been living next tq a man who bad a silo for a number of years, yet he did not real* ize its usefulness until he saw these .figures, after which he built a silo at once.