Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....Dairy And Poultry Industries 1918
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2006, 5:09 am

Book Title: History Of Imperial County California

DAIRY AND POULTRY INDUSTRIES

   Among the important and profitable interests in the Valley today is that of
the dairy. This is closely allied with the vast forage production for which it
has become famous in past years. Two years ago a former chief of the dairy
division of the United States Department of Agriculture predicted that the State
of California was destined to become the greatest dairy state in the Union
because of the low cost of butter-fat production. And he asserted further that
the Imperial Valley presented the greatest possibility of profit of any section
of the state, having every opportunity to excel as a money-maker in this
business. Even at this time, of the 58 counties this Imperial County supplies
half of the butter consumed in Los Angeles, and produces one-tenth of the total
butter product of the state. And yet the record would seem to show that this has
been done with low-bred cows and a low grade of efficiency, due to improper
methods, both of which could easily have been remedied, and have been since to
some extent. Farmers have learned that improved methods and more sanitary care
brings better prices and larger profits. To this end they have been weeding out
their herds, excluding the "boarders" and retaining the best milk producers.
They are also securing some thoroughbred stock and selecting cows having the
best butter records. Careful tests are being made of the individual members of
the herd regarding their producing capacity and general efficiency. Greater
attention is also being given to cleanliness in all the various operations of
milking and handling the cream and butter, realizing that such sanitary
conditions are absolutely necessary to the production of good butter from the
time the milk leaves the cow until the golden product is packed for market. No
department of farm work requires quite so much care to every detail as the
dairy. And no other offers so much chance for careless and unclean methods.
Cream and dirt make a filthy combination of the good and bad that is
intolerable, not to speak of the danger which may lurk in bacteria. The creamery
man cannot entirely eliminate the contaminating ingredients which may have found
their way into the cream. Clean utensils is another all-important item.

   State Inspector Nye, who visited this region, gave some very good advice
along these lines which have been heeded to some extent. Besides emphasizing all
these sanitary features, he says cream that is quickly cooled keeps sweet much
longer than when the process is gradual. The cream should be kept at a low
temperature until ready for the separator. This, of course, is a matter that
requires careful management in this climate, where it is necessary to use ice.
Clean cream, cold cream and rich cream are the important factors. With proper
attention to all these details it is claimed that butter-fat can be produced
cheaper in this Valley than anywhere else. There is little need of barns in this
rainless region, unless it be for shelter from the sun at times. And the season
lasts for twelve months, with an ample supply of green fodder continually, which
usually consists of barley and alfalfa mixed. Of late, however, this ration has
been varied with silage in some instances on the theory that a contented cow
will eat more and give better and richer milk. Some claim that with proper
management it is possible in this Valley to keep two cows per acre, especially
if silage is used. Under ordinary conditions, even without silage, they are not
keeping one cow per acre. One progressive farmer near El Centro is keeping 35
cows on 20 acres without silage.

   In 1916 some 8,000,000 pounds of butter were shipped from this Valley, which
brought $2,500,000 in the markets. The average yearly product here has been
estimated at over seven million pounds. This dairy industry is conducted largely
by men who came into this Valley with very limited capital. A man with $300 in
cash, who can pay a month's rent on 40 acres of land, usually makes a handsome
surplus in a short time. It is said that the average Valley cow will produce
four-fifths of a pound of butter every day, which at present prices nets
forty-one cents, or $12.30 a month. This she will do for nine months in the
year, making her value for butter alone $110.70. Then the skimmed milk is worth
$36 per year, and the calf ought to bring about $25. This brings the cow's total
yearly product to $181.70.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918


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