Progress Report for Alaska's Dairymen

Abstract

The Matanuska Valley dairy industry continues to be plagued with the problem of having more milk than can be distributed in early summer, while fall production does not supply the demand. Fluctuations between heavy summer production and low production during September, October and November are difficult to control. Cows calving normally in the spring drop off so fast beginning in late August that they are ruined for fall and winter production. For this reason, the Experiment Station has advocated breeding heifers so they will calve in late July, August and September. This means they must conceive from early October through December. Breeding should begin about October 1. It is almost impossible to change the calving dates of a herd except by starting replacements at the right time.