The Raymer enterprise., 1914-04-16
cow TESTING ASSOCIATIONS
Small oairyman May Take Advantage
Of Cooperative Society In Selec-
tion Of His Animals.

In connection with the movement
now assuming generality In its scope
and influence and benefits to the pro-
ducer and the consumer. viz, that of
cooperation in distribution, we will
do well to consider the value OF the
organization OF cow-testing associa-
tions, ofhcials testing, as well as pub
lie sales. and community buying
With the growth of the dairy in.
dustry in the several states, whether
it be gradual or very rapid, there is
always The problem of disposing OF
poor and unproductive animals and
the purchasing of high producers and
valuable stock as well as the starting
of new dairies. This process goes
on unnoticed In some sections while
in others it assumes wholesale pro-
portions and the value Of efficient and
reliable purchases is fully realized,
writes c. C. Tolman in Kimballs
Dairyman. In many, in fact, in most
instances, the individual is forced to
60 personally, and with much expense
to himself. and make his purchases.
He necessarily adds much In this way
to the price of his stock, especially II
he purchases but few animals. Be-
sides the expense Of travel in the Sc
lection of his stock, he has always
the risk of dealing with unscrupulous
breeders and this again may result In
very high price for an animal Of
average value. am speaking, Of
course, of the man who is beginning
his work of selection and is not ia.
miliar with the names Of the best
breeders and perhaps thinks he can
do better by buying from some one
who Is not SO well known, but Just
establishing reputation. Again. the
purchaser must transport his animals
and II he has but four or five, for ex.
ample, he has an additionally higher
expense as compared with purchasing
In carload lots.
In accordance with the national as
well as local movements for co-opera'
ton In the various phases Of agricul
tural endeayor, let US realize how we
can cooperate In the organization OF
cow-testing associations, official test
Ing, public sales and community buy
ing. Besides the realization of thou
sands of dollars in the production Of
butter and cheese, we have the oppor
tunity of introducing among average
farmers and dairymen, highly bred OF
pure bred stock at prices which he
can well afford to pay. The small
dairyman can 60 to the stables of the
cooperative society and select his AMI
mails at will with a large number tc
select from and at his inspection will
be pedigrees and records of all ami
mails. He may even have the benefi
of the counsel and advice of the off
GERS of the society.
Examples Of local societies of thi,
kind are already quite numerous II
the state of Wisconsin, as, for eX
ample, the Guernsey Breeders Asso
citation of Waukesha County. Some O
the members of this society have &C
tually moved their herds from othel
parts OF the state to Waukeshs
county. This is not necessary ant
means a great expense. Sales stables
of a society which might serve 1
whole state or more may be the plact
where periodical opportunities for pur
chasing stock may be taken advantage
of. The buyers may gather at such
times and whether the stock is or
exhibition or not, they can make theil
purchases. In case the animals are
not on exhibition, the buyer can easil!
learn where such animals as he wishes
are located. This does away with thu
expense Of travel to the buyer; ex
pense of advertising to the breeder
and many other expenses which nov
result In high price for the stock.