The Somerset reporter., 1909-01-28
Cooperative Breeders Associations
for Maine.

I0r MdluC'
The idea of cooperative effort in the
breeding of pure blood and high
grade dairy animals has been dis
cussed and advocated for years by
prominent Agricultural workers, and
during the past few years, under
several different working plans, it has
been put to practical tests in one or
two of our Western states. The re-
suits coming from this work thus far
done have been 80 satisfactory and
apparently possesses such far reach
ing possibilities, that the Department
of Agriculture believes the work
should be encouraged in Maine. The
whole scope of cooperative action
along this line has been personally
investigated by the Dairy Instructor
and special effort will be made to in
troduce it into Maine during the pres
ent year.
A Cooperative Breeders Associa
tion is organized for the purpose of
omoting the breeding and improv-
ment of high grade and pure bred
dairy cattle; of establishing and
maintaining cordial relations between
its members and by cooperation to-
improve the general ua,y interests OF
that particular community or county.
The cooperative feature of the AS
sociation ID extended to the purchas-
;,,r, l,,a 1T, nd AL nf n n
ANIMALS also the using of pure bred
slres.
Each Association usually, and be-
lieve should always devote its energy
to promoting some one particular
breed OF dairy animals and thus make
the county or town in winch the As
sociation is located center for the
distribution of tn At particular breed.
The members would undoubtedly be
drawn closer together and would
more readily cooperate in every pos
sible way, in which the advantage OF
the membership as whole appeared
to lead, If the Association was work
ing for the promotion of one breed.
There are at the present time about
20 of these Association in the State OF
isconsin and 80 far, they have been
County organizations. In Michigan
four have been organized and more
to follow very soon.
The writer can see no reason why
this work when once begun should
not be extended to Associations for
other breeds of cattle beside the SO
called dairy breeds, also to sheep and
hogs and horses, and such Is the pur-
pose of the Department OF Agrlcul-
ture when Association work shall
have been once established.
To the writer it appears that the
objects of Cooperative Breeders
Association could we'll be stated as:
2. 70 create demand for, and
open channels for the sale ofsurpIus
stock.
3, To make possible the inter
change of breeding animals for which
the owner has no further use.
4. To secure pledges from mem
bers and othe rs to use pure bred sires
only.
g. To mutually benefit the mem
bers me entally, socially and financially
8 10 cooperate so far as possible
with fellow members, IN the buying
and selling of animals.
Already the breeders of Holsteins
in two sections of the state are inter-
estedI in the move and steps will be
taken at once to more fully discuss
the proposition with them and to
present plans for an organization In
the of which the Department Will
gladly cooperate. In order to facili-
tate this work it is hoped that the
owners of pure bred registered stock,
in the state and all others interested
in the improvement of their dairy herd
or other stock will write the Depart
ment of Agriculture at Augusta Civ
ing their full address and stating the
breed and number of animals they
own. In return they will be sent in
formation concerning the proposed
Association wok, together with a
copy of the By laws under which
most of the Associations i'll other
states are working.
The Dairy Instructor will respond
TO calls for lectures upon this subject
and via give such assistance as may
be in his power toward organizing
and making the work of the Associa
tion successful.
EoN G MERRIJJ Dairy Instructor,