The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-09-30
cow TESTING ASSOCIATIONS
Scope, Methods Employed and Results Accomplished
Talk of Forming Organizations in This County


has been started with a view to es-
tablishing COW test associations in
Windham county and in view of the
universally recognized benefits of such
associations. which materially improve
diaries. the scope and purposes of such
organizations and the methods of oper-
alton are given herewith.
The primary purpose of the Cow Test
association is TO obtain records of the
yearly production of milk and butter
from each individual animal, also to
keep records of the feeds and their
cost and from this data obtained, the
poor cows may be eliminated and only
the profitable ones kept. Thus
strain of cows may be developed
which vii produce large amounts of
milk rich IN butter fat
The work was extended to include
also the cost Of feeding and raising
calves and Young stock, of producing
pork and keeping horses. 1t has been
extended to the keeping of records of
Yields Of different fields with different
u ops and much is being thus accom-
plished. as the records furnish good
| basis for comparing different systems Of
farm management cultivation, crop
rotation, etc.
IN ease the association keeps records
OF other animal production the cow
! test obtained from the farmer, inform
alton with reference to the amount of
feed consumed bv each animal thus
aScertaining the feed cost Of keeping
the animal; and by making occasional
weighings of the animal, the cost of
producing one pound of gain is deter
mined Where records are kept OF
growing crops the COW tester ascertains
from the farmer the total yield of the
! crop as we'll as the total acreage. thus
getting the yield per acre. If the
grain has been sold receipts must be
shown for its delivery. By applying
the total sum Of expense in connection
with the growing OF the crop the cost
Of producing one bushel is calculated
August Kinch of Sweden Joined the
cow test association in 1899 He has
20 COWS. The first year : testing re
vealed the fact that only . of then
possessed sufficient merit to be deemed
fit for breeding purposes, and the re
mainder of the herd was disposed of
The heifcrs of the IS cows were raiseo
and added TO the herd, which kept in
creasing until in the 18th year it con
tanned one more cow than in the frs
year The increased yields were ac
compliShed by the selection of cows o.
large and economical production ans
their progeny combined with the us'
of improved sires Naturally with thu
increasing production the COWS eonsum
cd more feed which can be looked a
with satisfaction when the owner see
gradual increase in yield and cor
responding satisfactory decrease in eos
Of production per given amount. As
Stunning a cost of 30 cents for eacl
feed unit at price of 80 cents
pound for butter, the extra clear prof
from 20 COWS the last year wa
&2549.40 more than it was the frs
wear when Mr. Kinch joined the asse
citation. The cost of obtaining thes
records was about & per COW or ar
: proximatelv $40 year and assumln
that the cost of purchasing good sire
was Offset by the Increased commercial
value of the herd, it means that a
outlay Of so year brought IN a
g income Of $2jl9.40. Assuming that tn
: profit from the cows could be apple
Y to the mortgage on sthe farm, ma
+ with n herd of 20 COWS like thos
owned by Mr.. Kinch in 1900 could pa
J off the mortgage $4,000 in % year
: while the profits from 20 cows such q
!, he owned in 1909 would pay this NOR