Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-12
Michigan Cow-Testing Hints.

Michigan Cow-Testing Hints.
Now that two cow-testing associ-
atoms are already in active operation in
this state and many other neighbor-
hoods are contemplating organizing for
the same purpose, the ideas of those
who have been longer in the way are of
special interest. The following extracts
from an address of F. III. Scribner be-
fore the dairymen of Richland County,
Michigan, will be found of interest:
II is hard work to imagine a man 80
indifferent to his own interests that he
would not put up milk sheet in his
stable, and own and operate Babcock
tester for the encouragement of this
work, and it is for the benefit of those
who will not, or who do not care to take
this trouble, that cooperative test
associations are being formed.
Cooperation along this line is splen-
did thing, and while there are many
that trust you, and would as soon take
your test as any, yet there is always a
suspicion of doubt on the part of some,
and especially those to whom you are
not personally acquainted, and if you
some test association, or your creamery
man, it makes it more valuable.
And | think the publishing of these
tests has its benefits as well, as it will be
an incentive to better work all around,
the man will be better feeder and will
study up the kinds of feed that are best
adapted for milk production, and be
more liberal in his feeding and have
more regularity about his feeding. The
water will be seen to more carefully, to
see that there is a sufficient quantity, and
that in the winter it is of the right tenn
perature. He will also plan for some
supplementary feeds for summer use
when the pastures are getting to be
brown and dry, either by putting up a
silo large enough to have some left over
green crops for sOiling purposes
ought to have, and think the publish
ing of these tests would have its effect.
Ii he was good feeder and had some
good cows, he would be proud to show
his records. On the other hand, If he
was poor feeder with inferior cows, it
would have a tendency to make him
ashamed of himself to be so far behind
his neighbors, that he would probably
either improve his methods and herds
or go out of the business.
The different cattle club associations
are now offering to pay one-half the ex-
pense of testing the pure-bred cows,
providing the cow gives the required
amount of butter fat stipulated, which
amount varies somewhat with each
breed association, and also with the age
of the animal. The cow that produces
the required amount is said to qualify
for the advanced registry, or registry OF
merit, as the case may be. This work
is usually done through the cooperation
of the different experiment stations and
is very reliable and economical. This
is test only for the pure-bred cows,
and, so far as | know, there is no ad-
vanced registry for the common or
grade cows. | think it would be wise
move for either the Wisconsin Dairy
mems Association or the Experiment
Station to start an advanced registry of
this kind, regardless of breed, and print
such report at the end of each year.
The Wisconsin Dairymen's Associ-
alton spent lot of money the last year
sending out men to organize test associ-
ations throughout the state. They
would 60 to a community and make a
house TO house canvass, and try to get
the farmer to agree to weigh the milk
from each individual COW every milking,
and to furnish an accurate sample from
each COW once month, either to the
local buttermaker or a man sent out for
this special work, and in compensation,
the farmer agrees to pay so cents or 81,
as the case may be, per cow per year for
this testing, providing enough COWS can
be secured in the locality TO make ii pay.
This has been great educator as the
farmer would not only find out which
his boarders were, but the tester would
visit the different farms frequently, and
give advice not only TO improvement in
condition of stables regarding light and
ventilation and kind of stall for keeping
cows clean, but of the feed and care OF
the animals.
have also known it to have direct
benefit on the creamery man, as they
were usually anxious to have their
test compare with the test association
work, and | believe the farmer more
than realized enough in this way to pay
for the work for the whole year. There
never will be an over-production OF
good cows. Wisconsin is being looked
to to produce and furnish high grade
cows, and high prices will be the rule
for long time to come.
What makes q cow valuable is not
only her being high-grade cow, of
some of the leading dairy strains, but
her ability to perform at the pail, if this
is substantiated by some test association
it makes her all the more valuable
Maine Farmer.