Fetrow Farms is the Cream of York County DHIA
BY JOYCE BUPP
Staff Correspondent
YORK - “We don’t do anything
right,” chuckles Ron Fetrow,
leaning back against a stall pipe in
the airy, whitewashed tie-stall
bam at Blue Knoll farms.
Cows don’t get lead feeding
before they freshen. The calve,
usually unaided, at a bam a half
mile distant, where they run
through their dry period with a,
string of heifers. Calves are raised,
not in individual hutches, but in
part of the bank-style bam, tied
where milking stalls were
removed.
In spite of the rundown of items
Fetrows claim they’re doing
“wrong,” the herd has been top
ping York County’s DHIA chart for
well over a year, since January of
1985. Attesting to “right”
management is the current rolling
herd average on 82 milking head of
registered Holsteins is 21,785 milk
and 768 fat.
Blue Knoll farms is owned in
partnership by brothers Howard
and Ralph Fetrow. They grew up,
and even attended school, on this
family farm, which they took over
in 1979, after the death of their
father, Harvey. Herd average then
was 17,446 milk, 648 fat.
“It’s just been climbing
gradually, but steadily,” affirms
Howard, who handles most of the
general management of the farm
and who hauls milk parttime for
Rutter’s Dairy where the Fetrows
market their production. His son
Ron is in charge of the herd health
and breeding, since graduating in
1963 from Penn State. Ralph
manages the cropping program,
and assists with milking. One full
time employee, and Ralph’s
grandson, who lends a hand part
time, round out the management
team at Blue Knoll.
Well-grown heifers, tight culling
Ron Fetrow has taken a special interest in working with this
October calf, sired by Bell and from their 13-year-old Optimist
brood cow.
At 13 years, and going strong with lifetime credits of over
200,000 milk, this Optimist brood cow has 21 daughters and
granddaughters in the Blue Knoll herd.
requirements and consistency in
feeding and milking schedules all
contribute to the impressive ac
complishments of this herd.
Heifers are bred on size, but
generally freshen in the 28 to 30
months range.
“If they’re bigger when they
calve, they just milk better,” the
Fetrows agree. And, after calving,
heifers come under close scrutiny
in the milk string. Sixty pounds per
day wins a heifer the right to stay
in the milk string. If she’s from a
solid “good family” pedigree, a
fifty-pound start is tolerated.
It’s a game plan that’s paying
off, with two-year-olds frequently
milking between 80 to 100 pounds
per day. Several first-lactation
DHIA 305-day projections are over
20,000, and the 20 two-year-olds are
averaging over 19,000. At least 36
individuals in the high-production
herd have peaked over 100 pounds
of daily production.
“Everyone feeds,” quips Ron,
who quickly adds, “But we can’t
run around all day with a feed cart.
Cow’s don’t get any special at
tention.”
Corn silage 45 pounds per cow
goes into the trough at noon,
when the herd is brought back into
the barn after morning exercise
turnout. Grain is fed evenings, and
hay is offered outside both mor
ning and evening. Total ration is at
a 17 percent protein level, and
sodium bicarb helps hold fat
averages steady.
Dry cows join bred heifers in
loose housing on an adjoining farm
of the Fetrows. Hay is the main
stay feed here, supplemented with
a home ground ear com mix and a
small amount of silage.
Since hay is such a vital part of
the Blue Knoll feeding ration,
Ralph takes special pains to put in
top quality alfalfa and timothy
mixed balings. Rounding out the
hay plantings and spacious
t a
Four generations of Fetrow farmers have worked the land of this neatly maintained
and manicured northern York County dairy operation.
pastures are 200 acres of com and
75 in wheat on the 273 owned plus
200 rented acres.
Two cow families comprise the
bulk of the herd, both founded on
daughters of MooKown Optimist
who were born five days apart 13
years ago.
Blue-Knoll Optimist Bertha, VG
-86, has lifetime records over
200,000 milk and 7,000 fat. Her
daughters and granddaughters
currently in the herd total 21. Blue
Knoll Queen Optimist, with more
than 186,000 lifetime production,
numbers 18 daughters and grand
daughters in the herd. And each of
the Optimist brood cows has
produced an Excellent daughter.
Type, especially on legs and feet,
has become the number one
mating priority, and butterfat
holds a close second.
Atlantic sires have seen steady
use in the Fetrow herd over the
years, with Stewart and Rusty
current sire favorites. Marvex left
a positive mark here, siring
several in the milking string, in
cluding one daughter with 29,000-
plus in 365 days. A half-dozen Very
daughters are performing well,
carrying high fat tests. Also tur
ning up on Ron’s herd breeding
charts recently are the likes of
Board Chairman and Bell.
“What we don’t look at are index
numbers,” emphasizes Ron.
“That’s the worst number in the
industry."
While 95 percent of matings are
by A. 1., a young sire runs with
heifers over the summer, to
maintain conception levels and
lessen handling of young stock
during the heat and harvest
season.
“We sell very few cows because
of breeding problems since Ron
took over that part of the
operation," Howard is quick to
note. “Some of our success with
the increase in production is due to
getting them bred back to calve
within the year.”
However, the Fetrows aren’t
afraid to merchandise breeding
stock. They firmly believe that if
someone is interested in an
animal, at whatever age, they’ll
talk business.
Although the Blue Knoll herd is
relatively new to the type
classification program, BAA on
their most recent scoring was at
102.
Along with the increased em
phasis on herd type, the Fetrow
family is mulling over entering
their first cattle show this sum
mer. Ron has taken a special liking
to a correct, leggy. October heifer
by Bell, and would like to measure
her possibilities on the tanbark.
Long range plans here include
Ron’s continued interest in
managing and continuing to im-
From left, Ron, Ralph, Howard Fetrow and Floyd Armolt
join Jolene, a Blue Knoll herd favorite, on a pasture hill
behind the dairy barn.
prove the Blue Knoll herd, while back to 1912, when Samuel Fetrow
his dad and uncle hint occasionally and his family began sha re
nt looking toward retirement, farming with owner Dr. Charles
Heifer percentages this spring Lenhart. Ten years later, they
have been running high with 9of purchased the 104-acre farm. In
the last 11 baby calves being 1947, Harvey Fetrow acquired the
heifers, and Ron has high hopes for 124-acre William Smyser farm to
their future production and type expand the family’s holdings, and
promise. in 1956 added the adjoining Ed-
Blue Knoll traces its history ward Melhorn place.
Berks County Sets Holstein Sale
The Berks County Holstein Club will be contacting prospective
will hold the 10th annual club sale consigners during June. Anyone
on August 28, 1986. Bred heifers with questions or possible animals
and young cows that are for sale are encouraged to contact
representative of the consigner’s . Dean Hartman at 215-374-0908
herd are now being selected. (day) or 215-678-2014 (after 8:00
A member of the Sale Committee p.m.).
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