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Show Farm News-Notes By LEW MAR PRICE County Agent Water and Shelter Important Factors in Dairying With Nature working 24 hours each day giving us sub-zero temperatures, biting winds, and long nights to overcome over-come the cow comforts provied by man milk production at this season is reduced in proportion to the success or failure of the herdsman's efforts to meet conditions. We know that herds properly housed at present apparently ap-parently are not aware that winter is on. A check on the milk sheets shows no reduction in milk flow. If your cows have gone off in milk flow the past month or six weeks more than they would have done under un-der favorable weather conditions, then you can g-ure what you are paying for shelter the cows do not have. It is a typical illustration of the fact that you pay for shelter whether your cows have it or not. And the fact is you pay every year when you do not have it. Another important phase in determining deter-mining production in our dairy industry indus-try is an ample supply of water of the right temperature. The Milford Flat has a material advantage over the remainder of the county in that respcet if they will just utilize it. The water coming from the wells is practically prac-tically the same temperature in winter wint-er as in summer, but readily freezes under present temperatures if allowed to stand long. "When we take into consideration that a cow requires from three to four pounds of water for every pound of milk produced, we can better appreciate apprec-iate the value of water that is not so cold as to limit consumption. A cow giving forty pounds of milk a day requires approximately 140 pounds of water in that time. We have many cows in the county exceeding exceed-ing that production. To drink 140 pounds of ice water in a day with only (Continued on page five) Farm News-Notes By LEW MAR PRICE County A sent (Continued from page one) one chance to drink is next to impossible. impos-sible. A cow does not eat amply when she is thirsty. As important as it is that a dairy cow have plenty of the proper kind of feed, it is equally important that she have plenty of water of the right temperature. In sections tank heaters are the rule where the dariyman does not have water inside the barn where the cows stand night and day. If cows have access to water at all times they will take it in small drafts, and will usually take an almost ample supply without material injury. However, How-ever, if they are given only one or even two opportunities a day to drink icy-cold water, production is bound to suffer. 1 Dairyfarmers in Beaver County should not be satised, nor release their efforts for one minute until the merchants mer-chants sign an agreement to discontinue discon-tinue the sale of substitutes for dairy products. Every local institution will benefit. It is a proven fact that top-cross feeder pigs make cheapest gains. Pigs from a purebred sow mated with a similar bred sire of another breed grow faster and go to market earlier than purebreds, but are not recommended recom-mended for breeding. This should be given consideration in planning next spring's pig crop. Culling of the poultry flock for 1931 should begin in January, and continue each month to December. A few pullet pul-let flocks have been culled in the county during the past few weeks.. If 75 to 9 per cent of the pullet flock is in production, and the others are of the same age and breed, they should be' culled and sent to the market. The longer they are allowed to remain in the flock the more unprofitable they become. If you do not know which are the producers, help will gladly be given at any time. |