The Yale expositor., 1901-08-23
Dairy NoteA

6lmllar IactS can De brought out IN
almost any native herd OF cows In this
country-that is a herd that has not
been selected with the idea of getting
only good milk and butter producers.
The ordinary herd is picked up here
and there without much reference to
ancestry. Their capacities are judged
of by the amount Of milk they give
when fresh, and this standard often
proves a very unreliable one. The
writer has known cows to give extra
ordinary yields a few weeks after
calving, only to dry up in six months.
Such cows were not profitable. Yet
they were kept because they could. at
least be sold again to another farmer
at the next time of calving. 1t is fire.
quently said that if lightning would
strike half of the cows in any one OF
our states, the dairy industry would
be helped. 1t is a fact that good
many COWS are kept that produce no
revenue whatever. The testing of the
cows would eliminate this factor, and
only good cows would be the order Of
the day rather than the exception.
In this country the testing associa-
lions would soon develop into some
thing more-that is, into associations
that would also provide for the appli-
cation to all of the herds Of the tuher-
culin test. A sentiment would be Gre
ated in favor of healthy cows, and 1t
would become impossible to dispose OF
cow at a sale unless she were posi-
lively known to be free from any of
the contagious diseases, especially tu-
berculosis. At the present time the
cost of applying tuberculin to a sin
gle cow is prohibitive. In the vicin-
ity of Chicago a charge Of SIS is made
for the application of the test for tu-
berculosis. That is because the veter-
marian must come number of times
to see the animal, often from consid-
cradle distance. Were large numbers
to be given the treatment at the same
time, the time element per cow would
shrink to an insignificant amount. The
cost per animal need not exceed 81 or
SO, and could be made even less If all
conditions we're favorable. In fact,
the only practical way of getting either
the milk testing done or the tubercu-
lin test applied is for the owners OF
cows to cooperate in the work and ex-
pense.
Mr.. ]. H. Monrad recently asserted
that at the present time nothing is
needed in dairy methods in this coun-
try more than the establishment Of
testing associations, such as have ex-
listed for the last six years in Den
mark. The Farmers Review has pre-
viously referred to these associations
and has urged that the work be taken
up here. Mr.. Monrad says that the
work in Denmark began in 1895, with
13 farmers. They formed the first Dan
ish testing association. The men hired
young agricultural student at about
$50 per month to go from herd to herd
and make monthly tests. The work
on the thirteen farms took his entire
time. The cost to each farmer was
only nominal. The results soon began
to make themselves seen. The poor
cows were welded out and the good
cows increased in number. The butter
fat began to show a decreasing cost
per pound. So successful was this
first association that it was followed
by another and another. After only
six years there are in Denmark more
than 200 of these associations, each
taking the full time of a student in
doing the testing work on the farms.
More than this: The work has so
grown that the associations have TAX
en- steps to combine under the super
vision of the government. We agree
with Mr.. Monrad that this work should
be taken up here. A score of farmers
could be found in almost any locality
devoted largely to dairying who would
be willing to form an association to
have the testing of their milk carried
on Systematically. Young men can be
found that are capable of doing correct
work with the Babcock tester, and
men, too, that can be secured at rea-
sonable price. The cost to each farm
er would probably not average more
than 81 per month, very small sum,
when the value of the tests is consid-
cred. In one of the tests in Den
mark, one cow was found making but
ter fat at cost of Is cents per pound
and another at a cost of rs cents per
pound. or course the COW that made
butter fat at a cost of 78 cents per
pound did not long continue in the
business.