Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-22
Guernsey Cattle
Breeders Discuss
Extension Work

vsry lntsrsstjns and Profitable
Meeting held Thursday In City
with Able Addresses BY Dr. ]. B.
Ready, 3. r. Hill Of American
Guernsey Assem-. and Other Speak
srs Of Note
A goodly number representing
those interested In the extension
work and building Of the breeding Of
Guernsey cattle in tho State Of
Maine and including the breeders of
these cattle In this section Of the
State, met In the Aldermen's room at
the City hall Thursday to discuss
tending to lead to the upbuilding
and replenishing Of Guernsey stock
among the farmers Of the State.
The meeting was called at the solicit
tation Of Arthur ". Abbott Of Au-
gusta, chairman Of the executive
committee OF the Maine organization,
who presided.
The morning eeasdon was opened
at 10 o'clock with an address by DR..
J. B. Ready, district federal inspect
tor for the eradication of tubercu-
losis among cattle. DR.. Ready
brought before the convention the
necessity Of applying a tuberculin
test in order TO stamp out the ap-
palling increase of tuberculosis
among the domestic animals Of the
State. He went into detailed dis
cussion of recent tests made by this
method and noted the progress made
thereby by the breeders of Guernsey
herds. There must be, he said, an
eradication Of this too common dis
ease among our cattle. which con-
stitute a great many in our thor
oughbred herds. There is a marked
decrease, he said, in the states OF
Massachusetts, and New York after
several years application Of this test
among the best Of the cattle breed
ers. Maine has an enviable reputa-
ton for having raisers of good cattle.
and we wish to get rid Of the small
percentage Of tuberculosis infected
stock that is now evident here and it
is only by scientific test that tu-
berculosis can be truly recognized.
A COW may look fat and sleek. but
such an appearance has little signifi-
canoe.
The speaker took up at some
length the fundamentals Of the re-
vised State law, especially that re-
garding compensation for condemned
cattle which he said assured every
one a square deal.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
The afternoon session opened at
1 O'clock, the first speaker being F.
B. Hill, assistant secretary Of the
American Guernsey Breeders Asso-
citation. He took for his subject the
possibilities of Guernsey stock as a
Maine utility breed. Mr. Hill, in his
opening, warned our cattle men of
the possibility of the stripping Of
Maine farms of this breed by the
breeders Of the West who at the
present time are almost destitute of
this particular kind Of cattle. An
other fact to consider, he said, in
connection with this stripping is the
ability Of the prospective Western
buyer to pick out the best cattle, be-
cause they know the game. There
are very few sections Of the coun-
try that can really be called Guern-
sey sections. We have doubled our
production in the last five years and
I predict great possibilities for the
raisers of this particular Kind of
cattle for the future, he said. The
work must be done along education
al lines. We must organize breeding
clubs over all parts of the State. 1t
is very evident also that every breed
er must do little home missionary
work if we are to get anywhere. In
closing, Mr.. Hill suggested closer CO.
operation, systematic advertising and
the listing of saleable Maine stock
for the prospective outside buyers.
Following Mr.. Hills talk, half
hour was devoted to a round table
discussion on the methods of stock
classification and proper registra-
ton of pedigrees.
The next speaker was Fl. M. Tuck
err Of the Maine Department OF Agri-
culture, who said that in order to
attain success, any organization must
get together and pull. There is
noticeable interest in dairy improve
ment. Fluid milk business, he said,
is overdone and the time has come
for the production Of milk containing
real butter fat instead Of quantity.
Referring to DR.. Ready's discussion
of the tubercular test, Mr.. Tucker
advocated its, application in every
instance and said that propaganda
to discredit this test is the result of
aggressive efforts Of the veterinar-
ians Of the State who have a mis-
conception Of its real object. In
spite of its mistakes, do not know
what we could do without 1t.
Harvey D. Eaton Of Waterville.
who has charge of the live stock de-
partment OF the Central Maine Fair
Association. addressed tho meeting
and said, that the Guernsey COW is
the hapdsomest cow that ever stepped
onto barn floor. He predicted bet
ter times in the next 20 years for all
cattle people. He assured those
present that the efforts Of the Cen
trail Maine Fair was to create an in
stitution of real benefit to cattle
breeders. He took up the method Of
classification of stock exhibited at
this fair and urged especially small
herds exhibitions among the breed
ers and raisers Of this section.
Among those attending the meet
ing were G. w. Fogg and George
Foster Of Cornville, Ralph Weston
of Skowhe1an. Mr. ROyd of Read