Weaver Brothers
(Continued from Pag* Al) Landis said. ““If they could find a
can pick out-something that can way to factor in longevity, it would
tell you what kind of breeding you be good- A lot of high index cows
have and which bull will work well are gone after two or three years,
in that cow family.” Some of the cows out of low index-
The brothers do see some con- bulls milk well and last a long
flict between breeding for cow time, but they have no value in the
families and breeding for the index bull market,
numbers assigned by the registered seems unfair, but right now,
breed associations. if y° u are going to merchandise,
“I wish they would alter their y° u are going to need to go with
criteria for index numbers a little,” high index numbers.”
Tower-Front Bell Elaine, VG 86, was recently honored by
the Pennsylvania Holstein Association and the Lancaster
County Holstein Association for her production topping
record of 38,600 m 1250 f 1260 p. Bell Elaine had top produc
tion of 141 lbs per day and milked over 100 lbs per day for
eight months.
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Actually, the Weavers like to
stress cow families with high index
numbers.
“We may sacrifice a little index
at times,” Herb said. “But if you
can keep the type up, in the long
run, you’ll be ahead. Some guys
breed a cow one time and they have
a bull mother, but if you can look
back several generations you will
get a bull mother anyway, plus, you
have some hope for longevity.”
As for BST, “I don’t like it,”
Herb said. And Landis agreed.
“For the Holstein breed, I think
it’s an unfair way, if you want to
prove bulls. If a guy has an interest
in a bull, he can give BST to all the
bull’s daughters and not the herd
mates,” Herb said. “Several
pounds of milk per day doesn’t
sound like much, but it can make a
big difference on the bull’s proof.
“Commercial dairymen may
like to use it more because they are
striving to just get milk out of the
cow. The breeder is more inter
ested in longivity. He wants the
cow to last a long time.”
The Weavers farm 200 acres,
some of it rented alfalfa ground.
Their 75 cows have a rolling herd
average 0f21,000m 81 1f695f. The
latest classification shows, 2 EX,
16 VG, 37 GP, and 10 G. They
flush about five cows each year for
embryo work. Last month one cow
that was flushed gave them 16
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 8, 1990-A23
li
Linquenda
recently flushed and 16 embryos were recovered for trans
plant work.
Wea-Land Chai
27,000 m, HOOf, 950 p.
More
Inc.
good embryos. They consign ani
mals to promotional sales, have an
agreement with Stonehurst Farms
at Strasburg and last April sold a
red cow in New York for $6,600.
The secret for high production is
to do all the little things right.
“You need to have genetics,”
Landis said. “But then you need
management too. It seems like
everything together makes the cow
milk.”
The Wea-Land cows have a total
mixed ration in front of them at all
times and a top dressing is given
three times per day. Forage sam
ples are pulled several times each
month to keep exact information
available for feed ingredient needs.
Heifer management is called
“the most important step on the
farm”. Because you save money
and because the first-calf heifers
seem to milk better, they are bred
to freshen when they are 24 months
(Turn to Pago A 27)