The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-26
BULL ASSOCIATION
OPENS WAY TO GOOD
STOCK AT LOW COST

Every dairy farmer knows that he
would get better returns from his
feed and labor if he had high-grade
stock; but the idea of establishing "a
blooded herd Immediately suggests
"kid glove" farming and bankruptcy.
"Two.thousand dollar cows and two.
dollar milk" was one farmers char
acterization.
Yet the United States Department
Of Agriculture annually is leading
hundreds of farmers toward the pos
session of herds that will increase
or Increase the former milk and but
ter-fat yield with the same outlay
for upkeep one Of the most useful
agencies is the cooperative bull asso-
ciation
"A high-grade COW will impart her
excellent qualities to one calf in a
year, and the total of high-grade farm
cattle is increased by one. On the
othe" hand. bull whose mother
had the same milk and butter qualif-
cations, and whose father Is de-
scended from n milk and butter strain,
may sire as many as rs calves, each
cdITNl1lG llS SlldIt VI lUt tH
ceIience. This bull can do duty with
one lot of cows for two years without
danger Of inbreeding. If there were
five lots Of cows and five bulls, and
the bulls We're rotated rom one herd
to another every two years, each bull
would have period of usefulness of
possibly 10 years, and may easily
he aI1aI IN hau1 nf stock
with a due proportion of high milk
producing heifers. AS the first gen
Grafton of heifers became mixers
the breeding value Of the bulls woulo
become established and any inferior
sires could he weeded out. Five bulls
Z kept for 10 years may change the
entire dairy industry Of community
and possibly give its cattle dstinc
tiveness that would be valuable mar
ket asset.
Cooperative bull associations have
existed in Europe for a long time
In America the system is only II OF
IL, years DID, but records of milk
and butter-fat production are in pos
session OF the department, showing
tangible benefit far exceeding the cost
to the COW owners.
At New Windsor, Nd. for instance
seven daughters of one sire averaged
27O.5 pounds of butter fat, an i'm
provement over the average of 2OS.'
pounds for their dams. This was only
the first generation. The 5-block as
r 1ociation will permit line breeding
With greatly increased possibilities.
TO organize Il cooperative ball as
socintion, it is sirst advisable to arous'
as much interest as possible in th'
plan through meetings, converse
1ion. and the circulation Of Depart
Aent of Agriculture literature. 1t Il
possible that the county agent o
even some State or Federal agricul
tural representative can be induced
to help personally. Advice can al
ways he obtained from the depart
ment by mail. Forms can be ha'
from the department for a preliminar!
ugreement in which. among othe
things, ths number of cows owned b!
each prospective member Is listed
Whom sufficient number of COW
have been listed n meeting shoul'
be called and arrangements made TO
corresponding with breeders havin
ccrtribute in proportion to the mum
Der of cows he owrs, but would hav
only one vote.
Az early as possible. the tcmporar'
or permanent secretary shoGlG begi
corresponding with BREEDERS havin
hish grade bulls for sale. One bul
Should be purchased for about ever,
rs cows. The cows should be divides
into blocks of that number, wit
regard to gcosaphical convenience
and arrangements made for the keer
ing of the bull by responsible mem
ber whose farm Is conveniently 10
Gated The fees should be such as L
cover the purchase cost and the cos
| Of keep fon year. and annual assess
ments provided thereafter.
Il Valuable Information on the forma
| ton and conduct OF bull association
win be found In Farmers Bulletin gs;
which the department will send FIRE
on request. supplemental informu
ton. including plans FOR u mod,
bull pen. and data on the onerato
and success of various established bu
associations can also be- had by col
responjence. The department Is doin
everything in It's power to prowot
the cooperative bull association move
I ment as one Of the most valpabl
advances made In modern dairying