The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-29
join A COOPERATIVE BULL.
ASSOCIATION
Best Way to Rapidly Develop Fine
Milk Cows.


Clemson Sollege, May 9.-The pur-
pose of bull associations is to bring
about the rapid development of pro-
ductive milk COWS Of good conforma-
ton. This is accomplished principally
by the joint purchase, ownership, use,
exchange, and sale Of good %purebred
dairy bulls. A recent census report
shows 2O3, 900 milk COWS in South Car
DINA. Most of these cows are not kept
in diaries, but are used on farms and
in villages to furnish the family milk
supply. Not more than one-half of n
per cent are purebreds. The ma
jority Of these milk COWS do not
carry enough dairy blood to give them
a tendency to produce milk profita-
bly,; therefore the families owning
such COWS are without milk, except
for a few months after their COWS
freshen. By introducing the blood OF
highly developed dairy COWS through
their sons the calves from u pres
emit milk cows may become handsome
ly profitable COWS.
The Organization.
A bull association consists Of three
or more communities owning at least
three high class bulls. Each commn'
nifty is known as a block Of this asso-
citation. The number Of members in
each block will depend on the number
of cows owned. Since each block
should consist of 80 to go COWS owned
within one and one-half to two miles
of the community center, one man
owning 40 COWS might form a BLOCK
alone, while the next community
might have 20 members owning a to-
tai Of 50 cows. The association is
managed by a board of directors con-
sisting Of one member selected from
each block to serve one year. This
board Of directors manages and con
trolls all the business and the assocla-
ton, makes proper arrangement OF
the blocks, selects. purchases, n
sells the bulls of the association, fixes
the rate of compensation for bull En-
vice, arranges for keepers and their
compensation, and for the care and
handling of bulls. .
How to Organize an Association.
The success of a cooperative bull
association depends largely on the
care used in it's organization. Before
an organization is attempted, the far
mers interested should obtain as
much information as possible regard
ing the plan of operation. This in
formation can be secured from the
county agricultural agent or from the
Extension Service of Clemson Col-
lege. Active work by the county agrt'
cultural agent is necessary in order
to perfect a bull association, since
it takes the time Of some one very
much interested to q the members
of the communities and get them to-
gether in a county organization.
After those interested have been In
formed as to the plans the county
agent should call a meeting in each
community suitable for a block. AT
this meeting the plan of operation OF
the bull association should be gone
over and explained by the county
agent, a dairy specialist, or a member
of an association already in opera
ton. Those present desiring to be-
come members should sign an agree
ment somewhat like the following:
I'VE, the undersigned farmers OF
county, realizing the
need. Of more profitable dairy COWS
and the importance of p%urebred dairy
bulls Of good breeding, hereby agree
10 become members of the proposed
cooperative bull association, provided
that satisfactory constitution and by
laws a be drawn up and adopted,
and that a block can be formed with
in reach Of our farms"
At this community meeting a dele
gate or director should be elected 10
attend the county meeting at which a
constitution and bylaws are drawn up
and directors elected. This county
meeting is held after all the communi-
ties interested have held their local
meetings. The assessment for pur'
chasing the bulls is levied by the d.
rectors equally on each block This
assessment may be apportioned to the
members of the blocks in either OF two
ways. If there is a rather thick COW
population among the members, the
assessment may be made on each COW
subscribed. If the members have only
a few COWS each, the assessment may
he made on the share" basis, each
member taking an equal amount OF
stock. For example, suppose 100000