These four lambs made their appearance at Hill Top Farm In Carlisle last month. The sheep farm Is owned by a father and son team: Cletus Kipps Sr. and Jr., who raise about 15 black-faced Suffolk ewes. This Is the second birthing season for the ewe that the Kipps had for two years. Last year, the ewe gave birth to only one lamb. She was very protective of her one lamb, but this time, Kipp Jr. said, “I think she Is going a little crazy with four of them running around. She doesn’t care if we pick them up or what we do.” The Kipps bottle-fed the lambs for one and a half weeks. Now the energetic lambs are drinking from their mother and nibbling a little on grass and grain. The Kipps will raise the lambs and sell them tor meat when they reach 60 pounds. “They’re real friendly. They come running to me all the time,” Kipp Jr. said. bates in four easy steps ,4Mb n»HW<. LONE MAPLE MILLER-LAKE INC. POLE TAVERN SALES A SERVICE Baiiavliia, pa EQ. SALES CORP. Naw Alaxandar, PA 717-938-2338 Elmar, NJ 412-999-7172 609-389-2980 LOST CREEK IMPLEMENT Oakland Mllla, PA 717-493-2191 MILLER’S EQUIPMENT eqSSSt ' WC. RO #1 Rt. H Olay, PA ralrmouiN CRy, PA 218-997-9277 We’re cutting deals on cutting parts <775* Double-point guard., just I. Long-lasting guards for all John Deere mower/conditioners. (E 62000) (JJl44* Wear plate..just Top-quality plate for John Deere mowers and mower/conditioners. (E 47954) Chromed knife sections...as low as s.B3' For John Deere mowers and mower/conditioners. » (£o39* Hold-down clip...just <])£• Clips to fit all John Deere mowers and mower/conditioners. (E 47955) ‘John Deere dealers are independent retailers who determine their own prices, so actual selling pnce may vary from the price shown Offer good through June 3Q1992 OXFORD GREENLINE SCHEFFEL EQUIPMENT Oxford, PA . 218-932-2783 218-932-2784 914-929-8009 GEORGE V. SEIPLE TOBIAS EQUIPMENT M.S. YEARSLEY A SON CO., MC. A SONS Eaaten, PA Halifax, PA Waal Chaatar, PA 218-289-7149 717-392-3132 218-999-2990 II m' 1 / ; - ' \ f^cSSSSET^) V* MBWjfr I SMITH’S WALTEMYER’S IMPLEMENTS, INC SALES A SERVICE Marearaburg, PA Pad Lion, PA 717-325-2244 717-244-416* “eqSSIot" WWELAHD EQUIPMENT, ■saar Research Projects Garner Distinctions For Students characterization of solute trans port in soil with fibeioptics with advisor Dr. Masoud Ghodrati. Other research projects add to the body of knowledge that helps keep Delaware agriculture viable. Animal science major Jennifer Goetz studied completion of the DNA sequence of the unique short region of the Marek’s disease vir us genome with advisor Dr. Robin W. Morgan. Marek’s disease is a major threat to the poultry industry. Food Science major Elizabeth H. Locke researched temperature stress proteins and fatty acid pro files in plant tissue culture under the guidance of Dr. Margaret E. Sloan. This research can be applied to maintaining the quality of fresh fruit and vegetables dur ing transport. The degree with distinction program is designed to give a gre ater depth and breadth of study than is generally required for the bachelor of science degree. Stu dent theses are defended in an oral examination administered by faculty members and a representa tive from the university committee Bon student and faculty honors. Kennis Keeps Cattle NEWARK, Del. Six Univer sity of Delaware College of Agri cultural Sciences seniors were candidates for degrees with dis tinction this year. This honor is based on students completing theses and research projects often on topics of immediate interest to the state. For example, agricultural eco nomics major Kerri L. Weidner researched the economic costs of protecting Delaware’s freshwater wetlands under the supervision of her advisor Dr. John E.A. Mack enzie. Another senior in food and resource economics, Craig R. Kreider, conducted an analysis of consumer attitudes toward food safety and fresh produce in the Delmarva region with advisor Dr. Ulrich C. Toensmeyer. Geoffrey S. Salthouse, an agri cultural engineering major, eva luated the impacts of agricultural management practices on ground water contamination by pesticides under Dr. William F. Ritter’s gui dance. Plant and soil sciences major Eric L. Hacherl studied the Lancntu Fuming, Saturday, Junt 6,1M2-E25 (Continued from Pago E 24) Kennis said part of the decision to sell the milking herd came in 1988 when he started seeing big fluctuations in his milk checks. Since 1990 his milk income has dropped from about $l6 per cwt to $12.52 per cwt this spring, including a $1 per cwt decline from April to May. “You can’t count on a specific income when you need it,” he said. So the Kennis’ Hilltop Farm is now gearing up to sur vive and hopefully thrive by raising heifers exclusively. Kennis believes that business decision is feasible because of one word; specialization. “Some farmers don’t have enough time, enough facilities, enough special feed to raise heifers,” or most dairymen do it only as an adjunct to the milk-producing part of their busi ness, he said. At his own farm he has sold 10 to 12 heifers a year which were ready to freshen and which he didn’t need to keep. His plan is fairly simple in its face. Kennis will buy calves about one week old, then nurture and pamper them with a special diet—including supplements to increase the heifers’ food-conversion efficiency until they freshen for the first time. The state average until first freshening is about 28 months, Kennis said. He believes by specializing he can reduce that time to 22 months. On his own farm he has been able to shor ten the time to first freshening to 22 months compared to 26 months when he started, and at the peak of their second lacta tion many of his cows have averaged 100 pounds of milk per day. Tentative plans are to add about seven new calves each month, and gradually build up and sustain a running herd of 150 animals; selling about 75 each year. He has sold heifers in the past to dairymen in Missouri and has had inquiries from as far away as Florida, so he believes there is a market he can serve. The conversion to heifer raising will require some physical changes to Hilltop Farm. The two bams may be divided into lots, an automatic conveyor feeding system is being consid ered, cement work and water system improvements will be needed to handle the larger animal population, and head locks at the feeders would be a convenience. One concern Kennis has involves the DHIA’s heifer man agement program he now subscribes to and relies on. Under present policies, Kennis said if he gives up milking cows, he’ll also have to drop out of the heifer management record keeping program. “When I sell my milking herd—and need the management program most it will be unavailable,” he said. So Kennis is now poring over feed rationing programs and studying other options for the transition. “I can’t see anyone changing enterprises without knowing where you’re going. I get at least 10 farm magazines, papers and journals, and I spend a lot of time reading.” Kennis said. He has no misconceptions that his new venture will still require time and energy, just like milking cows. But he’s looking forward to having more flexibility in his schedule. “I won’t have to be here from five (a.m.) to eight in the
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