496 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



In this connection, I note with regret the increased, use of oleomargarine 

 among the farmers in the state. It is not my purpose at this time to give 

 a long discussion of the merits or demerits of oleomargarine, but I do 

 feel that the production of butter is of far more value to the state than 

 is the manufacture of oleomargarine and I have little patience with the 

 farmer who sells his birthright for a mess of pottage by selling his 

 cream to the creamery and then using part of his cream check to buy 

 oleomargarine for his own use. 



One dangerous practice which we are making every effort to eliminate 

 Is the custom of a number of dairy farmers to castrate pure bred sires. 

 Considering the prices being paid for pure bred stock, it would seem 

 almost impossible that a practice of this kind could be indulged in, but 

 it is unfortunately true. However, by taking prompt measures, we 

 believe that this evil will be very shortly corrected. Paradoxical as it 

 may seem, we have a situation wherein some farmers are castrating 

 pure bred bulls while others are begging to be supplied with them. The 

 numerous educational campaigns and frequent experiments designed to 

 prove the value of a pure bred sire at the head of the herd, are having 

 an effect, and the demand for sires of this kind of every dairy breed 

 has been greatly stimulated. An effort is being made to interest the 

 various dairy breed organizations in a movement to replace grade sires, 

 particularly those of the scrub variety, with good, pure bred stock. 

 While it is too early to make any predictions as to the success of this 

 plan, a large number of the more prominent breeders have displayed 

 considerable interest in it, and I feel confident that a good working 

 plan to bring this movement about will be formulated very soon. 



Probably never before in our history has the export situation played 

 as prominent a part in the prices of our dairy products as during the last 

 few years. While rapid recuperation on the part of European dairy 

 countries is looked for, the export situation has not as yet been greatly 

 affected, and dairy products continue to clear our ports in large quantities. 

 I would take this occasion, however, to warn the dairy manufacturers of 

 this state against being lulled into a sense of security by the belief that 

 present prices will continue. Despite the fact that many European 

 dairy countries are in crying need of cattle, it is my solemn belief that 

 foreign competition will again be met within a very short time not only 

 on our export but on our home markets. Only by producing dairy 

 products of a high grade can we hope to be able to compete with 

 foreign made goods, when that time comes. 



While dwelling upon this subject, I wish again to call the attention 

 of the manufacturers of our dairy products, particularly manufacturers 

 of creamery butter, to the fact that too little attention is being paid to our 

 local Iowa markets. Particularly is this true of our smaller creameries. 

 The incongruous situation of seeing butter shipped from a creamery 

 located in one town to be sold in another, and from a creamery located 

 in the second town to be sold in the first, is frequently encountered. 

 Frequent conjectures as to the effect of prohibition on the sale of dairy 

 products are heard. While no exact figures are available, reports reaching 

 this oflBce tend to show that the sale of dairy products, especially of ice 



