—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 24. 1973
6
From Local Aa Teachers:
This weeks article was sub
mitted b> Michael J. Burton,
Young Farmer instructor at
Penn Manor High School.
Sire Selection -
A Management Tool
In order to survive in the dairy
business today, the successful
manager must increase
production while holding down
costs as much as possible.
To accomplish this he must use
every management tool at his
disposal - forage testing, soil
testing, least cost rations,
mechanization, credit, etc Every
farmer has heard of, and
probably used, most of these
tools at one time or another. They
can help the dairyman stay in
business if he uses them correctly
in his program
One management tool that is
often overlooked, but can con
tribute greatly toward the
dairymans future in dairying, is
sire selection. His decision on
which bull to use on a cow today
can decide the genetic potential
of a replacement heifer two years
from now It will pay him great
dividends to select bulls that are
known to sire top producing
daughters They will be the
dairyman’s future.
Now the question arises, how
does the dairyman measure
genetic progress made through
sire selection Sure he is using
A
"LITTLE UTTER”
HURTS
...in fact
too many Little Litters
can put you out of
BUSINESS
When used with exclusive Big Dutch
man electric heat mats, properly
placed aluminum slatted floor and
controlled ventilation, this unit pro
vides an ideal farrowing arrangement
and a disease-free environment. If you
Sia Dutchman*
EASTERN BRANCH
215 Diller Ave., New Holland, Pa. 17557
Thoughts
Ivanhoe Star, Palcamar Capsule,
Westside AB Seaman or another
of the top AI bulls. But most
likely he uses other sires also, so
these top bulls represent only a
portion of his total sire selection
program He needs to look at his
total program and find out what
the genetic improvement or
“proof” of the average sire is.
The Manor Young Farmers have
devised a method to calculate
this proof. Any dairyman can use
this method, it’s easy
1 List the last sire used to
breed each cow and heifer over
the past 12 month period, using
the barn breeding chart.
2 List the predicted difference
plus repeatability for each bull
using the latest USDA Sire
summary which is available
from any AI technician
3 Now total the data and divide
by the number of bulls. This is the
average genetic improvement.
■HHIIfIWfI
r»mtnr
DANIEL S. ESH
Box 351, RDI 'Ranks, Pa
COMPLETE BARN AND
INDUSTRIAL PAINTING
Water proofing on block walls
(5 year guarantee)
Write for Free Estimates and Service.
A Division of U.S. Industries, Inc.
in Passing
BIG DUTCHMAN SOLVES
THE “LITTER” PROBLEM.
Mortality rates due to scours and
accidental crushing have been sig
nificantly reduced by the farm test
ed and farm proven Big Dutchman
farrowing system; a complete sys
tem designed and built by people
who understand the sow and her
needs. The farrowing unit construc
tion features embossed draft panels,
heavy galvanized side walls, adjust
able bottom rails, welded steel tub
ing joints, doors that open at either
end, welded steel bars, 17-gauge
square steel tubes, feeder adaptable
to either dry or liquid feeding and
a back up bar adjustable to the size
of the sow.
are concerned about today’s litter
problem, see us. We’ll help you
“solve” the litter problem.
LET US HELP YOU PUT
IT ALL TOGETHER
Michael J. Burton
4. Analyze the data.
Now that he has calculated his
Phone 717-354-5168
average herd sire, the dairyman
asks “What does it mean?” The
average herd sire is the genetic
improvement that he is breeding
into his herd now and the genetic
potential of his replacement
heifers.
The next step is to set goals for
your particular herd and
breeding program. We have used
a predicted difference of 500
pounds of milk with a
repeatability factor of 55 percent
as a base for establishing in
dividual herd goals. From here,
each farmer establishes his in
dividual goals for fat, type, etc.
After you select your goals,
then look at the sires available to
you and decide which ones will
help you reach them. If you need
some brushing up on predicted
difference, percent repeatability,
etc., contact your local
agriculture teacher, county
agent, or AI representative. They
will be glad to help.
Sire selection, if managed
properly, can contribute a great
deal towards improving your
future in dairying. Treat it as a
management tool and profit from
it!
Note: If anyone would like a
There's a better way
to get her to produce...
PURINA MILK CHOW
You’re not going to get any more milk out of that cow if
she doesn't have it in her. But your cows may have the
bred-in capacity to produce an extra ton of milk a year—
with the proper diet.
That proper diet is Purina Milk Chow Special. It’s a high
efficiency milking ration that contains carefully selected
ingredients blended together in the right amounts to help
your cows produce all that’s in them.
Start feeding your dairy cows Purina Milk Chow Special
and keep an eye on your records. Prove to yourself that
this high efficiency ration can return you lots of milk at
remarkably low cost. In fact, many local dairymen report
increases of over 2,000 lbs. milk per cow in their first
year on Milk Chow Special.
Stop in and see us today. We’ll give you the details on
prices and delivery. You’ll find us at the store with the
Checkerboard Sign.
John J. Hess, 11, Inc.
Ph. 442-4632
Paradise
West Willow Formers
Assn., Inc.
Ph: 464-3431
West Willow
Ira B. Landis
Ph: 665 3248
Box 276, Manheim RD3
When washing musty white
cotton materials, add diluted
chlorine bleach as directed
on the container. (Never use
chlorine bleach on silk or
wool.) Some colored fabrics
and fabrics treated with spe
cial finishes may also be af
fected by chlorine.
To help keep moisture out
of clothing and household
fabrics and thus make them
less susceptible to mold
growth, treat them with
water-repellent sprays. Use
on draperies, slipcovers,
mattresses, golf bags, over
shoes, jackets and other out
er garments.
In order to have sufficient
chemical on the fabric for
mildew protection, wet the
surface of the fabric
thoroughly with the spray.
Examine frequently and re
spray when necessary.
copy of the survey form used by
the Manor Young Farmers,
contact Michael Burton, Penn
Manor High School, Millersville,
Pa. 17551.
IT'S CALLED
SPECIAL
lames High & Sons
Ph: 354-0301
Gordonville
Wenger's.Feed Mill Inc.
Fix-It Tip
Ph: 367-1195
Rheems
John B. Kurtz
Ph: 354-9251
R. D. 3, Ephrata