Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-08-02
AGRICULTURE

The Baltimore Sun of Monday last
contained a very interesting article
on cow-test work. This is Of course
a very important department Of farm.
ing, and one which our agriculturista
would do we'll to develop. 1t is here
printed in full:
clarifying is one of the greatest OF
farm enterprises. During recent years
our most progressive dairymen hav.
been trying in many ways to put mill
production on business basis.
"To do this effectively they find il
necessary to keep food cost and pro
duction records of their cows. TIL.
information thus obtained enables
them to increase the average yield o,
milk and butterfat and to reduce pro
duct'on costs.
"Notable among the systems whicl
have been put into practice by dairy
men to bring about this desired en-,
has been the utilization of cow-test
ing associations fostered by the Fed
eral Department of Agriculture in CO
operation with agricultural college:
OF the States.
"These associations are made up
dairy farmers who employ cooper:
lively an experienced man to tes
their herds at least once a month an
determine the exact amount of but
terfat and milk each cow is produt
ing. Detailed records are kept TO
each animal. They show the exac
status of the COW. From the record
of feed consumed and butterfat an
milk produced the efficiency of eac
cow can be determined. They ais
form a basis for the study Of fec
problems.
"On July l, 1924, there were abou
$50 such associations in this country
an increase Of more than 100 as com
pared with the number recorded a
that time last year.
"Mr. Mcdowell also pointed out tina
the average production of $1,000 as
ISOLATION cows whose records wer
tabulated was 6,274 pounds of mil
and 257 pounds of butterfat. Whe.
these figures are compared with tn
estimated average production of al
dairy cows in this country, it'll
more than 1000 pounds of milk ant
100 pounds of butterfat, it is seei
that the association cows are produc
ing about 60 per cent. more butterfa
than the average dairy animal.
although all Of this increase can
not be claimed as a result of the worl
of the cow-testing associations, Mr.
Mcdowell is of opinion the create:
part of it can be so credited.
"The first contrasting association
was organized in Michigan in 1906
From this lone pioneer organization
the number has increased rapidly un
til the high point was reached thi.
year. There were 100 in 1918, 459 il
1917 and 468 in 1920. Wisconsin il
far in the lead of all other States il
the number of associations reported
to the Government. This State has
l6S, followed by Michigan with 81
Minnesota with 80 and Iowa with 81
Maryland reports seven.
"Although reporting only q asso
Citations in 1923, California, with {
total of 46,464, ranked second to Wis
consin in the number of cows under
test. Wisconsin had 68,971; Mime
sofa, 2O,667; Iowa, 1884, and Michi
gan, 1884. Maryland had 1000 cows
under test in her seven associations
"The man in charge of the testing
work in an association not onl!
weighs the feed and weighs and tests
the milk one day each month but he
also computes the quantity of feec
fed during the month, the quantity
of butterfat and milk produced from
each cow. He also advises the farmer
as to what and how much to feee
and aids in the selection and breeding
of the cows, his advice being follow
ed generally by practically all mem
bers of the association.
"Cows are fed according to produc'
+;o,o orJ ,,ooc+ occociatiOnc aro feed.