The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-21
FOR BETTER DAIRYING.

State Commissioner of Agriculture
o. l.. Martin has recently issued
bulletin called the Cow Testing AS
ISOLATION Number" which ought to be
| Vermont. He answers the question,
What is a Cow Testing Association? -
as follows:
"A COW testing association is SIM
lply an association of dairymen form
ed for the purpose of learning the
dairy abilities of their several cows
1t is a method whereby, through the
employment of an expert who travels
! from farm to farm, this work is done
for the various members accurately,
cheaply, easily. The proposition is
one of Danish inception. 1t is said
that the scheme originated with a wo-
man, whose husband was trying to
improve his herd by careful selec-
ton, by weighing the milk of each
COW, testing it for it's fat content, and
keeping careful record. She conceiv-
ed the idea that their neighbors might
cooperate in hiring a man to do this
work, which could then be carried on
in greater detail, with less expense,
and perhaps with more accuracy than
! by the individual farmer. A commun-
| ity meeting was held, the plan out
| lined, and the first association form
ed in 1885,
| THE COW testing association has
had vogue on this continent for about
six years, and such organizations are
now being formed in many dairy sec
lions. There are five or more in
Maine, a few in New York and Penn
sylVania, many in Michigan, Wiscon-
SIN, Minnesota, Ohio and other States.
There are probably more in Wiscon-
sin than in any other one State. Some
! 60 or more were recently at work in
the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario.
The plan is a practicable one, it is
inexpensive, it affords reasonably
accurate data, it possesses education
al features, and it pays. All this has
been demonstrated beyond the posi-
ility of doubt"
The reports from the associations
in Vermont are of widely varying
character. In one association one COW
in four was kept at essentially no
profit, or at loss, while in another
one COW in every four made more
than $25 profit.
This work has only fairly been
begun in this State and there is lit
tie money available for State aid.
In Maine considerable State ap-
preparation is provided and a State
dairy instructor attends every dairy
test association meeting.
A Maine bulletin issued tells what
the members have learned from the
Cow Test Association work in that
State.
The sentences printed below are
said to be accurate quotations from
remarks made by members of the diff
ferent associations as the monthly
meetings held during the past year
and tersely express the appreciation
these men feel for the Cow Test AS
ISOLATION.
Il have learned the value OF delin-
! lite knowledge concerning ones bust
ness.
Il have learned the value Of meth
cd in conducting a dairy business.
Il have learned that COWS vary in
production of milk and milk fat
81 have learned that protein is
/ food requirements.
II have learned that the cost to
/ produce pound of milk fat varies
widely with different cows.
Il have learned that the consuming
capacity of COW often exceeds her
producing capacity.
Il have learned something of the
part the food nutrients play in the
economy Of animal life and milk pro-
duction.
Il have learned much concerning
methods Of feeding.
Il have learned the analysis of feed
stuffs.
IL havelearned that cows vary in
sometimes fed in excess.
II have learned to have a genuine
pride in good dairy cows.
II have learned the importance OF
breeding.
Il have learned that breeding op-
erations should be carried GA with
intelligence.
81 have learned that fads have no
rightful place in the breeding of dairy
animals"
Commissioner Martin we'll says
that fifty of these association; should
be formed in Vermont. In this manner
dairyman may know accurately
whether his herd is composed of the
best possible cows or whether he Is
keeping some animals that are far
from profitable. The development, of
this idea means much for the dairy
industry of Vermont. mist