Australian semen credited for herd improvement By DIETER KRIEG NEWVILLE - James Young, a Cumberland County dairyman, started with Milking Shorthorn cattle. They didn’t milk, so he replaced them with Holsteins. Better ’K Ben’s THE FIREPLACE STOVE... b HOWARD D. WEISS R.D. 2, Myerstown 717*949-375'/ Models in Stock - No Shipping Charge! Farming .. . It’s Nurtured the Good Earth of Our America Let's remember the part farming has played and still does in the development of the United States. It has provided us with the essentials to achieve what we have today. By providing food for our millions . . . natural fibers for our, clothing . . . jobs for many of our people. Let's practice conservation to preserve this land that has given us life. Eight years ago his in terest for Milking Shor thorns was rekindled when semen was imported from Australian cousins of the breed. Young acquired some of the genetic juice and once again made a switch in SAVE UP TO 60% IN HOME HEATING COST • New Model 501 “BIG BEN” Features Sealed Glass Door Panel. Pre-heated Second ary & Primary Air, Full Baffle, Sliding Damper and Smoke Dump System. " Free Standing Models Available FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY OFFICE. James Young, Cumberland County dairyman, credits Australian semen for improvement of his herd type and production. VI Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 21,1978—115 breeds. Two years ago he held a dispersal sale and ever since then his herd has been composed of the roan cattle rather than black-and whites. The specific name of the kind of cattle which has Young excited is Llawarra. Illawarra cattle, ac cording to Young, possess more dairy character than their American cousins and are much more productive. While his original herd of Milking Shorthorns wasn’t good enough to keep, his new herd, says Young, has the productivity of Holsteins without the feed expenses. His most recent production average is 16,1% pounds of milk and 612 pounds of butterfat, which gives him first place in the state for the Oreed. “Illawarra blood is what moved’em up,” the Cum berland Countian remarked. “I had a 9000 pound herd average before.” Since he began using the imported Australian semen, Young’s herd has become increasingly concentrated with Illawarra blood. He presently has just five cows m his herd which are of staight domestic breeding lines. Illawarra are the Australian strain of Milking Shorthorn cattle. Young’s reasoning behind the switch from Holsteins to Milking Shorthorns stems largely from the difference □ J—! A SOUND ENERGY SAVING INVESTMENT Ruggedly engineered to pile up plenty of firewood and fuel savings for years to come, an Echo Cham Saw has to be one of the soundest investments you can make Quit fueling around! come in today for a free demonstration FARMERSVILLE EQUIPMENT R.D. 4, EPHRATA, PA 717-354-4271 Mon , Tues , Wed. 4 Fn. 730 Till 5 Thurs 7 30 Till 9: Sat 7 30 Till 3 in feed expenditures. He claims a Holstein has to produce 18,000 pounds of milk to make him as much money as he gets from a Milking Shorthorn producing 15,000 pounds. Other reasons ,he prefers the smaller, rusty-colored cattle include the fact that they’re “dif ferent,” and they have a “nice disposition.” Illawarra semen, im ported from Australia, can be purchased for prices ranging from $l2 to more than $2OO, says Young, who does his own inseminating. He was among the first in the United States to try the semen in his herd and has used only Australian sires in his breeding programs for several years. “Ulawaras are a little taller and have more dairy character than domestic Milking Shorthorn cattle,” Young continued to explain. “They’re more upstanding, but then their feed intake is up some too,” he went on. He has noticed, little dif ference in disposition and breeding efficiencies bet ween the Hlawarras and domestic Milking Shor thorns. President of the Penn sylvania Milking Shorthorn Society, and a director of the Dlawarra board, Young says he originally became in terested in Milking Shor thorns -because his father had them. He had purchased his fust ones in 1940. Registered Hlawarras and Milking Shorthorns are the stock which Young ad vertises proudly on the sign which accompanies him to cattle shows. He is also active in promotional sales and related activities. “A Milking Shorthorn or Illawarra that produces 15,000 to 18,000 pounds of milk can command a price of several thousand dollars,” the dairyman commented, adding that he usually purchases two or three head at the national sale every year. Hie highest price ever paid for a cow of the breed is $lO,OOO, he recollected. Young, who isn’t likely to switch breeds again in the near future, farms a total of 280 acres, 230 of which are owned. CHAIN SAWS me.
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