Solving problems (Continued from Page D2O) for 45% of todays Belgian cattle, with 450,000 head on 35,000 farms. They are a Belgian alternative to the milk surplus problems. Blue & White cattle are part of the Belgian DHIA milk production record system with recent 305 day -2X breed averages of 8,800 lb. milk and 3.5% fat. They are dairy cattle, but their breeding and selection emphasis is on meat while maintaining an appropriate milk production level. Their history includes cross-breeding efforts of black & white cattle with Shor thorn more than 100 years ago. The popular “ blue” color today is due to the intermediary “roan” gene of that Shorthorn background. When Belgians breed a blue & white cow system anna 1 ) i : THE NEWEST DIMENSION IN DAIRY MANAGEMENT— A system designed and built to combine the most innovative dairy automation with computerized dairy re cord keeping. 2O?0 AGRI-COMP 2025 COMPUTER The Bou-Matic System 2000 offers you a choice of three stages of dairy " automation: automatic detachers, with Models available for either parlor or flat barn installations; the Model ‘M’ milk meter, a revolutionary metering device that monitors milk flow and pro vides individual production data; and the Agricomp 2025 computer, an on-farm management and re cord tool that offers a simple and efficient means of collecting and displaying dairy herd information. BOU-MATIC "We Care!" MILKING SYSTEMS A D'oouci Of Oany Equipment Company ' CUMBERLAND FARM & DAIRY SERVICE 4560 Dairy Road Chambersburg, PA 17201 717263-0826 MEHDraHALL DAIRY JONES DAIRY SERVICE W & i DAIRY SALES SUPPLY Box 52. Fostertown Rd. RO 2 Oxford, Pa. 19363 R.D.#4 Medford. NJ 08055 ' 717-529-2569 Brookville, Pa. 15825 609-267-0198 814-849-5539 TRI-STATE AUTOMATION Route 9. Whitehall Rd. Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-790-3698 to a blue & white bull, they obtain in average 50% blue, 25% white and 25% black calves, as expected from laws of genetics. Thus, the breed is not fixed in appearance, but still dynamic in continuing adaptation to market needs. What has been achieved however, just in the recent 20 years, is remarkable in the direction of establishing a “doubled-muscled” breed of dairy cattle, due to systematic young sire selection and progeny testing contracting of performance tested bull mothers; and an extensive A.I. program. The breed goal is a heavy muscular development of shoulders, back, loin and especially hind quarters with a sloping rump, first in bulls, but also now in cows. r. A-- ; $ y O' MODEL 2100 DETACHER Call or stop by for complete Information on the System 2000. PAUL R. LANDIS SHENK’S FARM SERVICE Milfnn Pa 1 7«e7 501E - Wootts Drive Utitz, PA 17543 717-437-2375 717-626-1151 The “double-muscle” loin is actually a genetic single trait for which Belgian selection is in tentional, while in most other cattle breeds this trait has been selected against. The reason is the experience that double-muscle calves often have difficult birth because of then- size. The Belgians solving this problem by expecting from their veterinarians routine Caesarean section assistance during birth whenever indicated. Today, more than a third of all Belgian blue & white cattle births are by Caesarean section. Calf mortality is only 2.5%, although bulls weigh in average more than 105 lb. at birth. Cows with eight Caesarean scars, four on each side, have been observed, (see accompaning photo), this this type of birth does not seem to be production limiting in numbers of calves, also considering their average calving interval of 13 t i MODEL 2700 M DETACHER & METER Jfcß SERVICE, INC. 215 N. Cornwall Rd. Lebanon, Pa. 17042 717-273-6232 Blue Ball. Pa. (717)31 Gap, Pa. (717) 442 li months. Quoted prices of $40.00- $50.00 per Caesarean section ap pear to pose no economical problems considering that current animal prices for breeding or meat purposes are extremely favorable, being often double or triple that of other dairy or dual-purpose cattle in Belgium. The high prices for calves, heifers or bulls of blue & white cattle appear to compensate for their lower milk production compared to Holsteins. Blue & whites have the reputation from 12 months tests of: the best growth rates (3.3 lb/day); the best feed conversion efficiency (0.4 lb. feed/lb. gain), the highest slaughter yield (68%), and the best carcass composition (78% lean meat, 9% fat, 13% bone). Adult average weights of blue & whites are 2,500-2,800 lbs. for bulls and 1,650-1,900 lbs. for cows, yet their leg bones appear to be very HAVING Here’s Be sure The new higher-po\ more lime each app soil that tests to pH: u LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU NOW • CORN - We have rental equipment to sidedress corn with liquid nitrogen or anhydrous ammonia. alfalfa - Topdress after first cutting. If you missed, be sure to topdress after 2nd cutting. Remember, established alfalfa is a legume and does not need nitrogen, insecticide spraying after first or second cutting. SOYBEANS - Asgro soybeans avail able. TOBACCO - Call Us. We can handle your tobacco spraying needs. Available N0w.... SUCKER-STUFF H.C. 1 Gal. Per Acre Order Now & SAVE! r| ORGANIC plant J FOOD CO. Summer Weekdays 7:30 - 4:00 Hours: Closed Saturdays July and August Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Inly 9,1983—021 refined, which explains their low bone loss on slaughter. The astonishing aspect about Belgian blue & white cattle is that they appear to be relatively unknown in the U.S.; that the principles behind their develop ment are much in tune with todays market needs in beef and in managing a dairy farm; and that adapting a cattle breed to changing market conditions is an interesting example by the Belgians that appears to be paying off for the farmers and their national economy. On last year’s Delaware dairy farm tour to Belgium and Holland, the farmer tour members were impressed by what they saw of Belgian blue & white breeding. They wondered why blue & whites or principles in their developments apparently have not been in troduced to the U.S. yet, nor ap plied to existing breeds, dairy or beef.
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