Dairying Pays Dividends 



With Favorable Climate, Plenty of Feed, High Grade Herds 



of Cows, and Good Markets for All Kinds of Products, 



The Conditions for Profitable Dairying in 



Montana Are Almost Ideal 



I HE RAPID growth and development of the dairy industry In 

 Montana is shown by the large number of creameries and cheese 

 factories that have been built in the past four years and the 

 great increase in the number of dairy cows in that time. In 

 1914 there were twenty-five creameries and no cheese factories 

 in Montana. In 1918 there are sixty-four creameries and eight 

 cheese factories, all doing a good business. The growth in the 

 number of dairy cows in the same length of time has been from 

 104,000 to 179,000, an increase of 75,000. This shows the demand that is being 

 made for dairy products and the possibilities of the market for the produce. 



Besides the creameries and cheese factories there are many dairies near the 

 cities, with large herds of high grade cows, to supply the demand for milk and 

 cream. Dairies are started as soon as the development of the community makes 

 their support possible. 



Growth of the Industry. 



The older, settled portions of the state, naturally, first built up the industry. 

 These portions were favorably situated in the fertile, irrigated valleys, and so the 

 conditions for dairying were particularly favorable. It is in these valleys, the 

 Bitter Root, Gallatin, Flathead and in Cascade county, where the greatest number 

 of creameries and cheese factories are located. In recent years, however, the 

 eastern and northern parts of the state have been building creameries very rapidly 

 and the industry is meeting with success in the newer places. In many of the 

 districts the returns from the dairy herd and the flock of poultry furnishes the 

 main source of income to the farmer, for a large part of the year. There is plenty 

 of grazing in these districts so the feed for the dairy herd costs very little. Most 

 of the creameries in these sections are owned on the cooperative basis, which 

 leaves control in the hands of the farmers themselves. 



Winter Dairying Proposed. 



The market for dairy products is good at all times of the year, but especially 

 in the winter months. For this reason the state dairy commission is carrying on 

 a campaign of education among the farmers for winter dairying, having the cows 

 freshen in the fall, so that high prices may be obtained and the market supplied 

 during the winter season. Heretofore dairy products have been shipped into the 

 state during the winter, but the commission hopes from now on to have the summer 

 supply conserved to meet the winter demand, with the additional high prices paid 

 at that time. Aid in planning shelter and instruction on the feeding of sugar 

 beets, mangles and silage in the winter is also being given by the commission. 



Shipments of cream are often made now on the railroads from all distances 

 up to 300 miles from the creameries. The creameries are strongly competitive 

 which assures wholesome market conditions. The rapidly increasing population of 



