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Climbing to the top of Schuylkill DlllA
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
PITMAN Hidden between
several mountains in the western
comer of Schuylkill County can be
found the highest milking and
testing herd in the county the 64
registered Holsteins of Carl and
Alice Snyder.
From an average of 19,942
pounds of milk, 3.6 percent test and
708 pounds butterfat in 1982 to
21,009 pounds milk ?.9 percent, and
821 pounds butterfat in 1983, the
Carl A. Farms Holsteins have
completed their climb into the top
production spot in the county.
Snyder credits much of the
success to feeding roughage on top
of grain. Four to five times a day
the cows are fed haylage, com
silage, high moisture shelled corn,
and a 40 percent protein sup
plement with hay pulled apart on
top of the grain. 1983 was the first
year that Snyder used this method
to feed his cows.
“You’re not changing the buffer
in their stomachs,” he explained.
Another factor that Snyder says
contributed to the milk and fat
increases was keeping the cows
cool during the summer. Many
fans were installed in the stanchion
bam and cows were kept inside.
“It would be as much as 10 to 12
degrees cooler in the barn,” Alice
Snyder explains.
Snyder also revealed an ad
ditional ingredient of his herd’s
success—total family in
volvement. In addition to a full
working partnership, the Snyders
have four sons who contribute new
ideas into the operation. Donald, &
Penn State graduate, was recently
hired by Pennfield Corporation as
a sales representative. Steve is in
his third year majoring in animal
science at Cornell University.
Mark is majoring in computer
science at Lock Haven University
and Tracy is a senior at Tn Valley
High School.
Snyder explained that it was his
sons’ idea for feed roughage with
the grain. He admitted that when
his sons were home over the
summer, the cows got fed better.
“The kids fixed up the fans, too”
he added.
“It’s really something when
Cornell and Penn State get
together,” Alice jokes about her
sons and their ideas.
“Anytime they come up with a
better idea that I can figure out, I
go along with it,” Snyder said.
“You got to change,” he added.
Saying that many older
dairymen resist change, Snyder
said the old ideas must be weighed
Mark Snyder stands with “Dori," who
Schuylkill award for the most milk and butterfat
Carl, Alice and Mark Snyder with "India,” one of the top
members of the Carl A. Farms herd. India was a 4-H project of
against the new ones and a
progressive dairyman must be
able to admit when there is a better
idea. Perhaps the reason that the
Snyders have children eager to
contribute to the farm is because
the parents have always supported
them. In addition to putting three
daughters through college, three
sons in college, and a fourth on the
way, the Snyders have always
made tune for their children.
Through 4-H, FFA, football,
baseball, and wrestling, they
always found time away from the
farm to enjoy their children’s
interests.
“Let them enjoy their years in
school, they have the rest of their
lives to work,” Mrs. Snyder stated.
The Snyders are not dictating
their children’s future either.
“We think they ought to try
something else first, then come
back to the farm if they want it,”
Snyder said.
“I never worked away from
: heifer I ever had,” states Carl Snyder of Petula, a
i daughter. Appraised at 85 as a two-year-old, she
I 125 pounds on her third calf. Her Elevation
projected to 22,000 pounds.
home,” he continued. ‘‘Maybe
they’d like something better.”
It was 23 years ago that Carl A.
Farms began with the purchase of
Mrs. Snyder’s homne farm. Prior
to that, Carl and Alice managed
the chicken operation on the farm
of Carl’s parents.
“I didn’t like chickens,” Alice
stated. This preference, along with
Carl’s brothers forming a part
nership on his parent’s farm,
prompted the purchase of their
own dairy.
Carl and Alice manage their
dairy and 220 acres of hay and com
with no outside help. Alice takes
care of all the feeding, in addition
to cutting all the hay. She proudly
mentions her new self-propelled
haybine with an air-conditioned
cab that makes the job much more
pleasant. They save the hay baling
for when their sons are home for
summer vacation.
Snyder is a big supporter of
sealed storage silos, “blue tubes”
son, ;eve, and is currently contracted by several A. I
organizations.
* v*
Alice Snyder handles all feeding and raises calves in the
stanchion barn without problems, although she'd like to have
a calf barn.
as he speaks of them. With sealed
storage there is no waste and a
crop is only handled once, Snyder
explained. He says that there are
many “blue tubes” dotting his
valley and a secret to keeping
repair costs down is to make sure
that the crop is not stored too wet.
“You got to wait until it’s dried
down to 55; you got to wilt it one
day,” he said.
His cows also apparently ap
preciate the advantages of sealed
storage. The year the Snyder’s put
in their first unit, the herd average
jumped from 15,000 pounds to
17,000 pounds. They have con
tinued to climb ever since. Today,
there are three “blue tubes” on the
Snyder farm and the Carl A.
Farms Holsteins have been among
those at the top of the county for
milk production for the past few
years.
Contributing to the outstanding
average is Carl A. Jetstream In
dia. “India” is a Very Good - 88
daughter of Jetstream out of a
Very Good - 82 Elevation. Her
granddam is also a Very Good - 87
daughter of Arlinda Chief. With
records over 27,000 pounds milk
and 1000 pounds fat, India is
currently contracted by Carnation
Genetics, California, and Select
Sires, Ohio. She was super
ovulated and flushed to K Way
Apostle King Vick and is currently
bred to Sweet Haven Tradition.
Very proud of her, Snyder said that
she receives no special treatment.
(Turn to Page A 23)