Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-01

10 o0uclted. Address al oommunlC1St0ns -
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford DEN
ocrat. Paris, Ne.
Co.operatlve Breeders Associations
address by DIR. Leon s. Merrill at State Dair
Meeting)
The purpose of the COOPERATIVE
Breeders Association is to promote th'
breeding and improvement of high-grad'
and pure bred cattle, to establish ant
maintain cordial relations between IT.
mem bers, and by cooperation to i'm
prove the general dairy interests OF th'
particular community In which th'
association is located. When We con
slider the general admixture of BLOOD
lines in our live stock it must be ap
parent that work of this character II
necessary, and that We should stimulate
among our farmers greater interest II
the raising OF live stock that there shoulc
be established in their minds definite
ideals as to the qualities the particular
breed Of live stock they are interested II
should possess. In considering th'
breeders association work ii Is well tG
do so under several distinct heads.
/. Plan of Organization. The breed
ers' association should undoubtedly be
elastic in it's organization. Ltmust have
bylaws for directing III
work which shall also provide for neces'
sary officers, membership limitations
and fees.
So far as the size of an association OF
the amount of territory included within
it's limits is concerned, l feel that the
association limits should not be OF such
extent as will prevent any Of the mem
bers from attending the meetings. II
must be evident that the more con-
centrated an association is in its men,
the more easily they can assem-
BILE for meetings and with very much
less expense. =,
What .er plan the association may be
organized upon, cooperation should oe
the fu, iamental basis upon which II
rests. This principle can be utilized
not only in the purchasing and selling
Of live stock, but better perhaps than
either of these, tho use and the exchange
of pure-bred males. One OF the great
works the breeders association has be-
fore 1t is to preserve within the limita-
tons of the particular community IN
which it is situated the services OF such
pure-bred males as have demonstrated
their worth. One of the greatest in
iuries to our live stock industry to-day,
in the opinion of the writer, is the indis-
,riminate slaughter of worthy males.
III. Plan of Educational Work. In
on their educational work our
depend upon the regular
meeting held each three months more
han upon any other feature. Programs
Tor these meetings are carefully prepar-
ed, providing for discussion of important
subjects by the members, lecture by a
of the department. OF
and stock judging. Every
feature of the program at these meetings
IS planned with the idea Of developing
and bringing out the individual member
Of the association. The discussions
held are both interesting and fruitful
The demonstration in stock judging has
great influence upon the mem
bers, and no one thing has occurred IN
" which they are more interested. An at
tempt is now being made to form class
in stock Judging in each one OF these
conducted along lines siml-
lar to the work being done at the UNI
versity.
The meetings are held during the
summer months at the home OF some
member, where his animals, his methods
and his successes or failures may be
with our own.
The records of the animals owned oy
when filed with the secretary,
will also be a means of education TO the
different members.
The association encourages its mem
bers TO secure Instructive literature
along breeding lines.
Ill. How to Secure Reputation. III
a breeders association is to establish the
in which it is organized as
center for the distribution OF the par
ticular breed it represents, then II must
first establish a favorable reputation for
that are uniform in size, con-
formation and quality. Ii must also
have a large number from which pros
pective purch asers may select.
1t is the hope of the association that
frequent meetings aud the STOCK
judging such ideals may be erected in
the minds of the owners as will cause
them to think and act more nearly aike.
IL this is accomplished then they will
breed alike, and the animals owned Will
resemble each other in the qualities be-
fore named.
With all of these things accomplished
we believe that together with the saving
in travelling and shipping expense they
will prove a great attraction to pros
pective buyers.
Nv. Economy of Association Work.
There are several different ways In
which the members may effect economy
in carving on their work with the aid
of the breeders association. They may
be able to buy and sell animals co-oPera-
lively. Wherever this plan has been
tried it has proven satisfactory and has
resulted in considerable saving. The
using and exchanging of males Is also
an economical practice in association
work. The matter OF advertising IN
agricultural and breeders papers can
also be done through the association
much more economically.
The secretary should be kept inform
ed by the different members az to the
exact number of animals of different
ages and sexes owned by them. He
should also be furnished with list OF
animals for sale, together With their
pedigree and price, so that up
on receipt of inquiries from pr ospective
purchasers this information may be fur
nished to them.
II can readily be seen that the secre.
tary of a breeders association is its mos,
important official so far as concerns the
success or failure of the association
work. 1t is his duty to keep in close
touch with the affairs OF the memoers
30 that he may furnish satisfactory in'
to inquiries addressed to him
In order to facilitate his work the de-
has prepared certain blanks
which are herewith made q part OF bis
paper, calling for reports from the mem
bers to be- made to him at frequent IN
tervals.
v. Assistance Rendered by the De
partment of Agriculture. After very
investigation into the work o.
breeders associations in the state oi
wisconsin, and believing that If the
same plan of work was to be adopted IN
this state equally good result would oo'