The Silver State

A GOOD RECORD.

Humboldt County Cows in the Front Rank as Butter Producers.

The Lassen Meadows,
HUMBOLDT Co., Nev., June 9, 1894.

ED. SILVER STATE--Dear Sir: In your issue of yesterday you copy from an eastern exchange, statistics of the average butter yield of cows per annum. You say "the average common cow in the United States gives us only 65 pounds of butter in a year bringing down an average scrub cow to less than 52 pounds."

Have you ever collected the statistics of your own county?

Since we began making butter at this ranch we realized our own cows yielded a good average at least, so year before last for gratification of our own curiosity we kept a close record of every pound made. From April 2d, 1892 until November 2d of the same year, we milked but nine cows, and though ours is an extravagant family in the use of cream in cookery and for the table yet in seven months we made 1365 pounds of butter--an average of over 150 pounds for each cow--and we raised the calves. Some of these latter are now being milked and one, a graded Holstein-Friesian gives seven quarts per day, which proves we did not starve them while young for the sake of an increase of the butter record.

As yet we have but few Holsteins, though introducing them as rapidly as possible, the majority being what are commonly called "mixed range cattle" the result of breed, feed and climate in Humboldt county.

Among those we are now milking is a three year old heifer that gave 12 quarts every day for the first three months after she was broken, and almost as much ever since. None of our cows are even provided with any further shelter than such as the ordinary ranch affords. Nor do they obtain other feed than the natural grass and "browse" in summer, and dry blue joint hay in winter.

What record could be reached by Nevadans giving to their dairy cows the care that is given to the cows of other states remains for the future to prove. Certain it is that here we have a better yield, and better prices, if, as you quote, the average price for butter per pound is 15 cents. We have never received less than 25 cents and with a cow yielding 150 pounds it gives us $37.50 per cow per annum, as against $7.80 average elsewhere in the U. S. unless your source of information is incorrect. With such facts before us and the knowledge of the high degree of excellence of Nevada butter as evidenced by first place being given it at the World's Columbian exposition and elsewhere we ought to be able to prove to the world that our butter making industry alone proclaims Nevada a good state, and Humboldt not the least among her counties, although her cows may not yet quite come up to the excellence of the Holstein-Friesian you quote as "Pauline Paul No. 2199 Holstein Herd Book, who is the champion of the world, producing 1153 pounds and 1234 ounces of butter in 365 days" nor "Mercedes," owned by Thos. B. Wales of Iowa City, who won the challenge cup offered by the Breeders Gazette of Chicago for a 30 days record, "Mercedes'" record being 99 pounds 6 ounces. Nor "Pieterjie 2d," owned by Dallas B. Whipple of Cuba, New York, whose yearly record of milk reached 30,318½ pounds. Both of these cows also were Holsteins.

No, we of the silver state can not claim yet any such records for our cows, we have not reached those figures yet. But wait, give us time. All we want is time, national water legislation, a larger population and silver as it was in the sixties, to compete with other states in this and other things. If we do not then hold first place we will be at any rate a close second. Very truly yours,

I. M. S.