Tire VALLEY SETTLER Is published
ovary friday by the Matanuska
Valley Farmers Cooperative Associ
ation at Palmer, Alaska.
fflng. Editor: Mrs. Ivan '.Vi Is oh
Subecription rates: ^l.OOyoar
by mail: 1.50 ’’
mailed anywhere: 10^ copy
This paper is issued for the pur
pose of giving information and
news of the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Coopcrting Association’s
work, problems, accomplishments,
and also, news of local and gen- .
eral interest; and to help fost
er the cooperative spirit of the
farmers of the Matanuska Valley.
Con’t from page one.
clear profit as one 400-pound cow.
It takes nearly four 300-pound
cows to make as much clear profit
as one 500-pound cow. This proven
record shows why we must not
cross-breed, but stick to one
breed and'keep our best cows at
all times. Always improve the
herd with good proven-herd sires.
An official tost run on 45,000
Guernseys slow their average
butter fat production to be a
fraction over 500 pounds. Over
enthusiastic sales literture
sometime*s inford that this pro
duction is a fair average for the
breed. Such an inference is of
course, altogether misleading.
This is an average obtained only
by the choicest selected, animals
of the breed, cared for by the
mo3t skilled handlers, under the
most favorable conditions.
Guernsey dairies do not generally
average more than 300 pounds of
butter fat per year, and this
includes good handling, careful
feeding and good breeding, as is
always the rule to obtain best
results.
Now, compare these records with
those made the past year at our
own Experimental Farm and we may
be able to judge what can be. ex
pected from Guernsey herds here
in the valley.
Three average selected Guernsey
cows wore used for this produc
tion test. These cows were fed
one pound of grain to each 5 lbs.
of milk produced to-gether with
hay and some silage.
Cow no. 1
total lts,.nilk. praducod 755b.2
average test 4.47
total lbs.butter fat 337.63
Cow no.2.
total lbs.milk produced 7030.2
average test 5.3
total lbs,butter fat 377*9
Cow no.3
total lbs,milk produced 7018,7
average test 5.37
total lbs. butter fat 376.9
This gives concrete figures and
facts under local conditions.
Another important item to the
dairyman is the cost of raising
calves till the time of produc
tion. For these facts too v/c
refor to the Extension Service.
Here is the results of a calf
feeding / experiment which ran
156 days, winter months. Those
calves were started on whole milk
fed from the pail. In apprjxi
matcly 21 days they were eating .
dry feed and wefe given a dry
ground grain concentrate in
addition to oat and pea hay.
Following is the formula for
mixed grain fed, the estimated _ ;
prices figured and the weight
of grain. These calves were
divided in 3 groups with five
calves in each group and a slight
change in feeding of each group
for experimental purposes."
Grain concentrate formula;
ground barley- 57 lbs.
ground oats - 36 lbs.
ground wheat - 9 lbs.
fi3h meal 4 lbs.
powdered milk- 20 los.
salt 2 lbs.
Warm water was given to drink.
Lot 2- was fed the same ground
feed minus the skim milk powder,
(continued on page 5)