Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-02
VALUE OF SIRES' FU1uRI1Y
TESTS IN CATTLE BREEDING

Orono Me-, Feb. 1-(SpeciaD-The
following was made public here today
by Charles D. Woods. director OF the
Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
at the University of Maine:
During the week Of November 1b,
1915, the first Sires' Futurity Test OF
the Aroostook Jersey Breeders Asso-
citation was held in Pressure Isle at
Aroostook Farm under the supervision
Of the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station. The general plan Of this test
was as follows: Heifers sired by reg
istered Jersey bulls and dropped in the
calender year 1913 were eligible to
compete in the test. The production
Of butter fat in period Of seven days,
all of the heifers being tested at the
same time at Aroostook Farm, was
taken as the basis for the placing of
the awards. In order to put all heifers
on a perfectly fair and equitable COM
parative basis the actual milk and fat
production records were corrected for
age and stage Of lactation at the time
when the test was made.
The contest was won by the heifer
Mollie's Bessie owned by Mr.. e. l..
Johnston of Easton, Maine. The heifer
was out of grade Jersey COW and
was dropped May 10. 1913, and fresh
ened August 9. 1915. Besides winning
the first money prize. Mr.. Johnston
Jol Gil val.
ued at $4,000 given by the American
Jersey Cattle Club to the sire whose
get won the test. A complete report
regarding the test and the records
made will shortly be issued as bull
letin Of the Maine Agricultural Expe-
riment Station.
Some readers may wonder what re-
lation such a Sires' Futurity Test as
that discussed in this report has to
the investigational work of the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station along
cattle breeding lines. Specifically it
might be supposed that the only value
of such a Sires' Futurity Test was In
it's advertising worth to the winning
party. In our judgment such con-
clusion would be very far from the
truth. On the contrary. it is believed
that such Sires' Futurity Tests as that
here reported have in them possibilities
of very great value for the improve
ment of live stock. Just what the ma
ture Of these possibilities is will be
set forth briefly in the following para
graphs.
| Certainly a most significant result
which has come out of the investiga-
tions in animal breeding which have
been carried on by the Maine Agricul-
tural Experiment Station during the
past eight years is that which has
demonstrated that the only certain test
of the breeding worth of an individual
in breeding for performance is the pro-
geny test. This is true whether one
is dealing with egg production in poul-
try or milk production in cattle. II
the present state of knowledge certain.
ly (and probably the same will always
be true) it is not possible to make any
sure prediction either from the ap.
pearance of an animal. or from {
knowledge of it's pedigree. as to wheth.
err it's progeny will be uniformly higt
producers OF milk. eggs, or whatever
other qualities we are seeking The
OIlly CeIldiIl way W Jest ILLS Is Wy
measuring the performance of the pro
geny.
Now Sires' Futurity Test, such
as that here reported, is in principle
nothing whatever but progeny test
Such a Sires' Futurity Test is a direc
practical application of the teaching!
which have come out Of the Theoretical
investigationssof the Maine Agricultur
al Experiment Station. On that ac
count the Station is interested in sucl
tests. We believe that they form on
Of the surest ways Of helping towards
the improvement Of the cattle in an.
community. The Station stands read,
at any time to help other association
to inaugurate such Sires' Futurit,
Tests just insofar as its resources o
time and money will permit.
While the Station does not do ex
tension work in the ordinary accepte,
sense of that term, it is. and must nee
essarily always be interested in help
ing towards the practical application O
the results Of it's theoretical investi
ttigations. AS general policy in thi
direction it seems desirable for tn
Station in the first instance to worl
out, considerably in detail, in actua
co operation with the farmer or asso
citation of farmers. the methods o