64—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. June 12, 1976 Institutional /' A- r ' i^ r -?\ ! ibeen added to the"oi ’r.. v> I /£ - ’I* l\ \/' :\ /-/*" 'f^'%%- 1 "' and -bnlytwol of-the '-" /. * J 5 -toms, are ablefto'gt ~ >,? \ vr. *• * \ ' their, own;: Then. "'* ":- -A _:*<r "worimig at die farm wi V -^ S ‘- ~;hours per day withthi ■ .. C'V? " shift- starting-at-/3:J50 ' ■ '* ' .v-jr ~ J '« and finishing -at 41:3t T " Established'in .1894, .i i-.-^- ;&:&£** - Werhersvffle State/Hr v.' u > -■> , / ' '-i r - starteditsoWnfarmB2;> "-«. cl V““'-" #go r Amaghificentham '/ ‘built which' could-stilT v ' ~***L&4f " «wy 'htfmanyC;d*£yih( -~' today. The solid'structuf' "->»•?'.% ' /modernized - arid eqr’ 'With' ' automatic --.. , cleaners, inverted /pipeline and lots of wind' /It aUappearedto ]»' '■cellent repair//:/ // ... . A complete set of recoi has been; kept since" /.beginning; and are tht /-to “be -an? /impoi r -_ management toot: Wight :cohgMiS;man//pulle<r ot ;/ few old booksto illustrate/ -progress that has beenjqpt over the years. Most/ ST' butterfat records in 19Hj - earliest year - avaOabJ dairymen as it is ptsound construction, practically ' ranged from 300 designed, and well equipped. ~ '■ to3?ff pounds; with a numi of them below that and ( - - - three over 400.'Wagner nt * -* -V. \ V “"UT If-*; Z This bam at the Wernersville State Hospital was built in 1916, but it’s far from being an antique. The - structure would, in fact, be the envy of many By DIETER KRIEG WERNERSVILLE - Berks County’s highest producing dairy herd for 1975 belonged to the Wemersyille State Hospital, here. It’s also the only bend in the County to have surpassed the 700* pounds of butterfat barrier. The herd’s DHIA average, of 18,510 pounds of mfflt and 705 of fat on 66 cows is a source of pride at the farm, which is neatly tucked away at the foot of South Moun tain. Going strong again year, and likely to-finish at the top. of the DHIA list for 1976, (the latest rolling herd average for butterfat is 712} the farm is only one of two state-owned farms whichis still operating in the blade. Ironically, however, this farm and the one at Somerset face possible, extinction along with the" debt-ridden state farms. While that is a story in itself, let it suffice to say that the institutional farms are ezperienceing financial difficulties. One big reason is comparatively high-priced union labor. The farms have been operating under union regulations for the past several years, whereas much of the work had previously been performed by as many as 150 patients. Asked to dte three major factors as to why the Wer nersville State Hospital herd of Holsteins is doing so well, farm manager Dallas Wagner unhesitatingly answered: “Breeding, good help and feeding.” Herd sman Howard Corl was later asked the same question and responded with an identical answer. Wagner, a 20-year veteran manager at the state-owned grounds, explained that he has had his difficulties with some union people, but adds “this is the best group of men I’ve ever had ... my telephone no longer rings in the middle of the night, and at the end of May I’ll be taking my first week of vacation in 20 years.” Corl, herdsman since 1957, and an employee here since 1943, explained further that the cows are now in better w A t - ♦» x Cows at the Wernersville State Hospital Farm attest to that fat are well taken care of. Last year's DHIA average of well taken care of. 18,510 pounds of milk and 705 of fat on 66 cows health than they’ve ever been before. They’re fed and milked- properly by com petent personnel and in cidents of diseases and complications have been markedly reduced. He noted further that high production is dependent on healthy cows, and that, in turn, hinges on good help. “We have good milkers and can depend on them,” he af firmed. According to both Wagner and Corl that wasn’t the case when work was done by patients themselves. But that’s not to say they lacked interest or enthusiasm. Many had to be forcefully kept away from the farm after hired labor was brought in. The employees - all of them former farmers - generally have things under control. Wagner, “ for example, no longer has to go out in the middle of the night to check on (he herd and-or problems. On the other hand, significant labor costs have n< V* farm C , fr ranks “■ that theorigihal dairv >f -Ayrjshire-Hoi ;;bloddlines ;': s came a farm when it was i ' in!B92. That hfelps isome .of ttie coi, - high fat ;tests whici "shown in the old _ books. 4 ' • ". ai herd’s aver pounds of: ri oHat-oir% cows. ~ Hospital herd ’s averaj - 12,446 pounds of ' of fatondl cows. ? The farm relies ei . its for :: otaly a'3B per cent - supplement' and -- additives are pr ■: 'All ;told,f;the sprawls oyer more ■i. acres, biitoidy aboi .actuallyfarmed. 4 land coidcHieplowed - haCTestedjShhd even - attained,- ,Wagner ) ->jhe hadU more help. ■ji Charge^dfJlfi'men, 1 'fee grdmds-keepin) -additionv he, is * fireman'alLthe . 4’ own'firedepartmem 44 The .milking stri fed com >a daycNow, with plei ■" grass available, green relaces. silajge for . feeding. Either way, ' cow takes in about 60 ' pounds '-counting hay. „ percent hoi is fei <; ,times r daily accon nevt pei .Heifers receive an n from 15 to 18 pounds i /per dayJi-We’ve trii f feeding once and cows,” added Wagni ' pressihg his :dissati with hut practice. .Feeding hay is a r situatidn. Cows are. to eat all they warn is bet ■ and 18 pounds per he*. figured? It’s mostly . alfalfa, with both first - •.later cut; varieties fed < Z The breeding prof rated .by both Corl -Wagner as one of primary reasons for i production,, involves he entire facilities are equally thorough record-kef system. Corl takes: : [Continued on Page 65] first life in this modern ai id well lit
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