Indiana Dairymen BY RANDY WELLS Indiana Co. Correspondent INDIANA Despite the exceptionally hot and dry weather of the summer of 1988, Indiana County dairymen were able to increase their overall milk produc tion, improve their butterfat and protein production, and lower the average somatic cell count in their milk. At the annual luncheon meeting of the Indiana County Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Indiana Dec. 16, county extension agent Gene Schurman told the milk producers they deserved a jS pi thelnui U ... junty DHIA presented awards to the county’s top milk producers Donald Eaton (center) of Clarksburg and Larry Alli son (right) of Clymer. FAM MOOfl na NCF3U 0 NGMK pat on the back for showing gains despite the severe summer weath er, which he said by the end of June reduced “many pastures to nothing more than exercise lots.” In reviewing the local DHIA’s production, Schurman said 1988 average milk production per cow was IS.SOS pounds, an increase of 310 pounds per cow more than 1987 records. Average butterfat production from Indiana County’s cows also increased from SS6 pounds per cow in 1987 to 571 pounds in 1988, and average protein produc tion rose from 487 pounds per cow /urn®. •nrrMa WBGHT MOITM UK • Sales • Installation • Service NORTHEAST AGRI SYSTEMS, INC. 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But there were some setbacks from the weather, Schurman said DHIA records show the feed cost per 100 pounds of milk increased from $5.15 in 1987, to $5.29 in 1988. Winning the association’s award for top milk producing herd were Milos and Sandy Sinan, Hone RDI, whose Holstein cows APPLICATIONS: ,w» averaged 22,929 pounds of milk. The Sinan’s cows also took top honors for protein production, averaging 711 pounds per cow. The Donald I. Eaton farm of Clarksburg RD 1 won the award for top Holstein herd by butterfat count, with his cows averaging 825 pounds during 1988, an improvement for 84 pounds per cow over last year. The awards for most improved herd for milk production and most improved herd for protein content went to the Larry Allison farm of Clymer (increases of 2,598 pounds per cow in production, and 89 pounds per cow in protein). The most improved herd for butterfat was the Young-Woods Farm of Dilltown, whose cows showed an average gain of 102 pounds. Mr. Eaton also achieved the lowest average somatic cell count in the association, with a reading of 84,000. Schurman said that was a significant improvement over last year’s lowest average of 92,000. Receiving recognition as the top Jersey cow was “Frisky,” owned by Paul and Karen Sherry, Commodore RD 1, which pro duced 18,075 pounds of milk, 676 pounds of protein and 818 pounds of butterfat The best Guernsey cow was “Cathy,” owned by Alvin and Robert Beatty, Indiana, which produced 16,986 pounds of milk, 601 pounds of protein and 767 pounds of butterfat. Top recognition for Brown Swiss cows went to “Patty,” own- HELPS TO HEAT IN WINTER! HELPS TO COOL IN SUMMER! • Livestock buildings • Processing plants • Warehouses • Machine shops • Homes • Churches STORE HOURS: Mon.-Frl. 7:30-4:30 Sat. 8:00-11:30 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 24,1988-A37 Cut fuel costs as you keep livestock confinement areas warm and dry... 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Ask us for details soon. heat EXCHANGER /r ed by William Brickell, Clymer, which produced 15,001 pounds of milk, 513 pounds of protein and 616 pounds of butterfat The top Ayrshire was Dewight Farmery’s “#3,” Marion Center RD 2, which produced 11,392 pounds of milk, 374 pounds of protein and 414 pounds of butterfat Donald Eaton attributed his top butterfat herd and low somatic cell count to “all the little things...to paying attention to detail.” Eaton said he is in the process of raising his third dairy herd in this decade, and this time is striv ing for national recognition with a very scientific approach to milk production. He leases the farm he operates from, buys all his feed, raises no crops of his own, and instead spends almost all his work hours pampering his 100 Holsteins. “We’re trying to give the same individual attention to 100 cows that many farmers give to 30 cows,” he said. “I work very closely with nutritionist Frank Glunz, from the local Agway office, I’m on the phone with Frank maybe three or four times a week just over the diet for the cows. I’ll have an idea, and Frank will run it through the computer. Many times we’ll have individual nutrients balanced to within one tenth of a gram per cow per day.” One recent inovation in the Eaton feeding program was the inclusion of whole cotton seed, a high-energy, high-fiber additive for the cows. He also gives a lot of the credit (Turn to Page A 39) Completely Assembled Ready To Install
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