The Rural Voice, 1982-07, Page 10The Cream off the top
by Sheila Gunby
To make money, they couldn't count on
corn or barley.
They didn't have the "where -with -all"
to go into a big enterprise.
So. after months of planning. re-
searching and gathering information from
OMAF and the University of Guelph.
West Wawanosh farmers, Cecil and
Marybelle Cranston decided they would
milk Jersey cows and sell cream. For the
last two months, they've been hard at it.
"Two months is no test for a farmer,"
Marybelle says, "But we're trying to do
everything right - - udder washing,
Cecil has plans to upgrade the facilities in their barn before fall --a hot water tank, a
proper room to separate the cream. Cecil sidelines with an air hammer and a backhoe
but says that kind of work has been slow this year.
PG. 10 THE RURAL VOICE/JULY 1982
disinfecting." Cecil. who actually thought
up the idea says they should have been
doing this thirteen years ago.
Marybelle, who also doubles as a
councillor in her township. says they knew
this way they would receive a set price for
their product. A first time shipper can
obtain 400 kilograms of quota free from
the Board. then they can purchase another
500 kg at 50 cents/kg.
The Cranstons have 22 Jerseys. Cecil
says the barn could accommodate 33
animals easily but Marybelle would be
content with 22 very good cows.
Several registered heifers were pur-
chased from Barry Gibson. Bar•Sue
Jerseys. Grand Valley, who acheived the
highest BCA in milk and fat in Wellington
county last year. "We were actually
advised against heifers," says Marybelle.
"For one thing, they don't have a proven
record and we heard a lot about "kicking
heifers'. All our animals are good-
natured. No problem at all."
Other registered animals were pur-
chased from Art Bracken. Caledon and
Grant Butcher of Gran -Clare Jerseys.
Princton. The calves born on the Cranston
farm will take "Sunnyfield" as their herd
name.
"The stabling was already in the barn."
Cecil says. "It cost about 51.000 for a
pipeline with us doing the work our-
selves." A new cream separator could cost
up to 51500. but Cecil managed to buy a
used one for 5100. Everything is begged.
borrowed or stolen, he says.
The Cranstons used to have a barn full
of beef cattle, now they're down to a few
head. They already own a tractor. a
spreader and a hay baler. so they didn't
have to purchase any major equpiment to
accommodate their new enterprise.
They both agree it's a two -person
operation. Marybelle says they gave up a
lot. "Before, we had no real schedule."
she says. "Now we've developed an
internal clock." Cecil said they usually
have people in the barn every night to 'see
what we're doing.' It's like a zoo. he says.
You can tell he likes it that way.
Cecil and Marybelle are going by the
book. The cows are milked 300-305 days,
given 60-90 days to be bred and are milked