The Ward County independent., 1922-12-28
COMMUNITY DAIRY
HERD DEVELOPMENT r
(By r. F. Flint, N. D. Dairy
Commissioner)

The indications are that during the
coming winter there will be consider.
able discussion of community dairy
herd Improvement. Throughout North
Dakota sentiment is crystalizing in
favor Of the plan Of organization OF
the Holstein Breeding Circuit Associ-
alton at New Salem, Morton County
This circuit has now been operating
eleven years., Any cooperative dairy
organization that can successfully
stand the strain of war and drouth
must have a membership of eXcep-
tionally practical cooperators, or the
working plans Of the organization and
its purposes are economically sound
Having been a resident of New Salem
for twenty years I believe I am quail
fed to say the organization has all of
these features. But, as indicated, it
does not appear to need any endorse
ment except the known fact that after
eleven years of success it is "still 60
ing on high" The circuit was organ
lied in 1909 with twelve members,
two were later dropped for noncon-
formance to rules but others We're
added and at present there are sew
enteen members.
One of the most pleasing endorse
ments Of the circuit was the organiza-
ton of another in the same county, at
Flasher, and one in Burleigh County
which is being perfected In other
nearby communities organization is
being earnestly discussed. We we're
full year completing the New Salem
circuit. 1t was pioneer organiza-
ton of it's kind in the United States.
An interesting point in connection
with the circuit plan of organization
is that it originated in the Division of
Animal Husbandry, Bureau of Animal
Industry, U. S. Department of Agri-
culture, not in the dairy division, and
that it was primarily intended for
breeding experiments with beef cattle,
hogs or sheep. In it's original plan it
is still available and should be of
service to stockmen as the modified
plan has been to dairymen.
Organized community dairy herd
improvement throughout the United
States has been carried on chiefly
along definite lines and these are
Clubs, Cow Testing Associations and
of these organizations will give bet
Cei Understanding OL CHe DIeeulHS
Circuit Association" and how it COM
bines the good features of the others.
Calf Club
A boys and girls dairy calf club is
an organization in which each men,
ber owns registered female calf.
Each member is personally required
to feed and care for his calf. He must
also keep a record of the kinds and
FL
prior to the fulfillment of the life of
the club the calves are assembled for
a competitive showing. The data Of
feeding and story of experience in
caring for the calf is considered with
the calf in placing contestants. The
number of members a calf club may
have is not restricted. The require
ments of registered calf or similari-
ty of breeding are not always adhered
to, though these are desirable fea-
trSes.
The purpose of dairy calf clubs is
to assist in establishing better-bred
and better-producing dairy herds, and
to develop boy and girl members as
stockmen. There should not be u sale
Of calves as a closing feature of a
dairy calf club as is customary in
baby-beef and pig clubs. The dairy
calves should continue in the herds
where raised, and the calf club devel-
oped into a more advanced organiza-
ton. A calf club receives supervision
from the county club leader, but in
nearly all really successful clubs there
is local person or persons with an
enthusiasm for good livestock and "a
love for children, who exerts more in
fuence and gives more assistance
than the club leader is able to give
Such supervision is rendered without
direct financial aid from club mem
bers.
Cow Testing Associations
An association of dairymen for the
purpose Of regularly testing their
cows for production is known as al
cow-testing association. A group of
farmers (usually 26) employs a man
or woman who goes from farm to
farm Of members once month and
weighs and makes the necessary tests |
of the milk and butterfat of each cow.
The weight, kind and cost of feed are
also recorded, and suitable and econo-
mlcal rations are compiled. The great |
value of the cow-testing association is |
that members are enabled to feed with |
greater economy, to feed the produc-
ers while discarding the undesirable
ones because of knowledge through
the records of the earning capacity Of |
each COW.
Cow-testing associations do not
take breed into consideration. They
are democratic on this point. 1t is
question of production and return
over feed cost regardless of breed.
Many an overcommercialized pedi-
greed cow has been hamburgered to
the hereafter by her owner, and
humble grade exalted Cor vice versa)
because of the showings of cow-test-
ing association records.
: Cow-testing associations have prov
en- their worth. They first appeared
in Denmark in 1895, and in this coun-
try in 1905. There are approximately
500 in the United States now, and
widely distributed.
Funds to pay the salary of the COW