The Rural Voice, 1990-06, Page 27Faye has no plans to increase the herd. In fact, she has begun to
decrease it. "The cows are becoming better producers," she notes,
so not as many are needed to fulfil the quota. (Below, right) The
old creamery on the Benson farm, although no longer in use, still
stands, as does the original pump house.
than to bear the expense of growing the extra crops
themselves.
"It's all been a learning experience," Faye says,
looking back over the past several years. She can list her
accomplishments: calf hutches, a heifer barn built, new
equipment. But her greatest satisfaction comes from the
cattle.
Based on the classification standards of the Canadian
Jersey Cattle Club, which grades cattle according to their
size, stature, and "dairiness," Faye has 12 cows in the top
two categories.
She joined Animal Nutrition Inc. of Canada in 1980.
She sends grain and hay samples away annually to learn
what needs to be added to the feed to provide a balanced
diet. She hopes to make 1990 a year of zero pasturing,
letting the cattle out for exercise but not depending on
pasture for feed consumption.
Animal Nutrition Inc., Faye says, has been setting up
her ration and mineral mixes since 1980. The one year,
1988, when Faye didn't use the service, there were
problems with milk fever and twisted stomach in the herd.
In 1982 she became a member of the Ontario Dairy
Herd Improvement Corporation. The daily average milk
production of the 30 -cow herd is 38.7 pounds, and Faye is
aiming for a daily average of 40 pounds. She adds that
she is aiming for a BCA of 160 across the board — up
from about 140.
She has no plans to increase the herd. In fact, she has
begun to decrease it. "The cows are becoming better
producers," she notes, so not as many are needed to fulfil
the quota.
The things about farming Faye likes are often the very
things she dislikes. "I like being my own boss,
sometimes," she says. "I don't always like making the
decisions."
Does she ever feel pressured to keep the farm because
it has been in the family for so long? "Sometimes, but
that's not all that's keeping me here.
The good days and seeing the
improvements make it worthwhile."
While Faye has the responsibil-
ity of the farm, her family provides
support. On the kitchen wall hangs
the saying: "Help me to remember
that nothing is going to happen to me
today that you and I together can't
handle."0
r
JUNE 1990 23