DAIRY SITUATION ENCOURAGING 



(By B. F. Thrailkill) 



While the 1928 production of dairy products shows but very little gain com- 

 pared with 1927, the dairy department is looking for a substantial gain in 1929 

 compared with 1928. Production in 1928 was held down by the fact that herds 

 were culled out very thoroughly in response to the high meat prices offered for 

 the low producers and other undesirable cows. There is very little of this kind of 

 culling remaining for 1929 and with normal replacements in dairy herds, pro- 

 duction in 1929 is expected to show a substantial increase. 



Never in the experience of the State Department has there been such a de- 

 mand for dairy cows as is evident now. Demand is also strong for pure bred 

 cows and pure bred bulls. The profits from milking cows have interested farmers 

 in many cases to enter the dairy business as a business and not as a side line. 



The State Extension Service, through its county agents and the cow testing 

 associations, have greatly helped to render an effective service to the State's 

 dairy industry in 1928 in the year's culling program. As an incentive to cull 

 were the high prices at which the culled stock could be sold to butchers. The 

 effect of culling is to increase the butterfat production per head and per cow, 

 which saves the dairyman time, labor and feed, thus making him more money 

 compared with the same effort spent on an un-culled herd. 



The county agents have also been of great assistance in the matter of assist- 

 ing farmers and dairymen in finding good dairy cows for replacement, in the 

 selection of these cows and finding ways of financing of such purchases. 



All agencies working with the dairyman, including the Extension Service, 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the State Dairy Division, are function- 

 ing harmoniously. The dairyman himself is doing his part so that 1929 promises 

 to be a season of progress. 



ESTIMATED MILK PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 



1924 



Census 



No. Cows December 31 174,000 



No. Cows milked (year) 167,967 



Av. Production per cow (gals.) 436 



Total Production (gals.) 72,233,612 



Total Production (lbs.) 629,809,063 



Milk Used on Farms (lbs.) 



For making butter 131,308,200 



As fluid milk 85,835,063 



Milk Sold on Farms (lbs.) 412,665,690 



Butterfat basis 299,564,800 



As cream : 61,847.870 



As whole milk 51,253,020 



Equivalent of Whole Milk Manufactured 

 in State (lbs.)* 



As butter 365,157,950 



As cheese 8.193,550 



As ice cream 4,232,600 



Apparent Export from State by Farmers, 



pounds equivalent 56,507,740 



* Records of the State Dairy Division converted to equivalent pounds of whole milk. 



MANUFACTURED DAIRY PRODUCTS 



(From records of State Dairy Division) 



1924 1926 1927 1928 



Butter, lbs 14,178,938 16,230,062 16,701,233 16,363,882 



Cheese, lbs 934.065 i;810,053 1,556,408 2,347,408 



Ice Cream, gals 564,676 672,724 741,804 908,050 



BUTTER SHIPPED OUT OF STATE IN 1928 

 SHIPPED TO: 



Washington 1,985,360 North Dakota 11 859 



California 8,429,018 South Dakota 8 817 



New York 825,649 Iowa 7 424000 



Chicago 201,565 Wyoming ' 54]827 



Minnesota 133,761 Idaho 84,696 



Total of 6,241,476 lbs. shipped out of state in 1928. 



MILK PRODUCTION DATA 



Reporters are asked each month for a specific day the number of cows in 

 the milk herd, the number of these cows milked and the production of milk by 

 these cows. 



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