>2-
l-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Septembers, 2001
‘PARTICULAR’
DAIRY PRODUCERS
SATISIFIED
Ry
PURINA PROGRAM
At High Hart Farm in Sullivan County, the farmer and son team of Bill and
Jeff Hart along with herdsman Mike Bedford put a lot of thought and effort
into keeping the 250-cow Holstein herd healthy and productive.
Besides employing good management practices such as fan and water
droplet systems for cooling the animals, pasturing the cows on a seasonal
basis, and hiring the regular services of an excellent hoof trimmer, the Harts
rely on a Purina feeding program.
“We’re fussy here,” Jeff Hart said of the High Hart approach to dairying.
The farm has been in the Hart family since the mid 1800 s, said father Bill
Hart. He remembers his own father using Purina feeds “when 1 was a kid” for
the small dairy herd they kept on the farm.
Bill points to the high level of attention given to the feeding program by
Purina representative Josh Harvatine as a major reason for its success.
I '
The team at High Hart Farm near Forksville in Sullivan County, from left, Purina representative
Josh Harvatine, Bill Hart, herdsman Mike Bedford, and Jeff Hart. “We’re fussy here,” Jeff said.
ANTHONY’S FEED MILL
PO Box 212
Strausstown, PA 19559
610-488-6211
FARMER’S UNION CO-OP
30 East Walters Avenue
Greencastle, PA 17225
717-597-3191
FRANKLIN FEED & SUPPLY
5458 Cedar St
Williamson, PA 17270
717-369-3724
BROOKLAND MILLS, INC.
McVeytown, PA 17051
717-899-6772
K & K FEED, INC.
23 N Park Street
Richland, PA 17087
717-866-2324
WOODSTOWN ICE &
COAL
50 East Grant Street
Woodstown, NJ 08098
856-769-0069
® Trademark of Ralston Purina Company
y&lftAWMPvt.
OLEY VALLEY FEED
RD 2 - Box 271 A Oley, PA
610-987-3568
WILLIAM GOWER & SON
Rt 1, Box 50
Williamsport, MD 21795
301-582-2818
UMBERGER’S MILL
R D #4 - Box #545
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-867-5161
rHECKR-BOARD
HIGH BROS. MILL
441 Centerville Road
Gordonville, PA 17529
717-354-0301
H.C. SUMMERS, INC.
NORTH GLADE FEED & SUPPLY
12435-A Woodsboro Pike
Keymar, MD 21757
301-898-3414
239 W Mam St
Knoxville, PA 16928
814-326-4178
4002 Jefferson Pike
Jefferson, MD
301-473-8300
http://dairy.purina-mills.com
Herdsman and recordkeeper Mike Bedford showing off production
records for the milking cows on High Hart Farm.
Harvatine visits the farm once a week to test the moisture content of the
corn, alfalfa, and grass forages the Harts grow on about 600 acres. Along
with regular protein testing, he uses the information to balance the rations for
high and low production groups and the dry cow group.
Replacement calves and heifers are also grown on a Purina program.
The dry cows need special attention, Harvatine said. Since dry matter
consumption decreases to about half the level of cows in production, it is an
extra challenge to make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need.
“I keep a really close eye on the dry cows,” he said.
For the TMR fed to cows in production, Purina provides
a custom concentrate tailored to the types of forages grown
in the area.
Herdsman Mike Bedford pointed out a daily average of
75 pounds per milking cow for the month of July. The herd
is milked twice a day, without the use of any growth
hormones.
With about 1.2 million pounds of milk produced annually
for each fulltime man on the farm, the Hart’s operation is
running at a high rate of efficiency, Harvatine said.
A big part of what makes the Purina program so suc
cessful is that it helps keep the cows healthy and problem
free, Bill Hart said. He noted that milk fever and twisted
stomachs are rare events on High Hart farm.
“Josh is a good feed man,” Bill concluded. “He’s better
than a vet.” ■ ■ - n
FRANKLIN FEED & SUPPLY BEDFORD FARM BUREAU
1977 Philadelphia Ave. Bedford, PA 814-623-6194
Chambersburg, PA Everett, PA 814-652-2313
717-264-6148 New Enterprise. PA 814-766-3328
MARTIN’S FEED & FERTILIZER, INC.
Coburn, PA 16832
814-349-8787
GERMANSVILLE FEED &
FARM SUPPLY, INC.
17130 Bake Oven Rd
Germansville, PA 18053
610-767-9650
FARM CHOICE, INC.
297 Chesapeake Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-4601
R D BOWMAN & SONS, INC
Englar Rd
Westminster, MD 21157
410-848-3733
WELLCO FEED
RR 2, Box 1-A
Wyalusmg, PA 18853
1-800-326-9651
717-746-3442
BERLIN MILLING
RD #1 - Box 88
Berlin, PA 15530
814-267-4124
RITTER FEEDS
PO Box 306 - LR 3008
Paxtonville, PA 17861
570-837-3606
EAST GATE SEED & GRAIN
Reedsville, PA
717-667-6656
kssMus
Paradise, PA 17562
717-442-4183 1-800-635-3592
KREIDER’S MILL, INC
PO Box 146
Loysville, PA 17047
1 -800-789-M1LL(6455) 717-789-3535
Feeds designed with you in mind.