Putnam patriot., 1929-12-05
TIM FL Y FAR M TOPICS
 by the County Agricultural Agent

The only sure way to judge the va'ue of bull is by the average pro- duction of his daughters Though purebred bulls are on an average much better than grade bulls. regis tration papers are no guarantee of the quality of the animal registered and no guarantee that the production of the daughters of the registered bull will be higher than that of their dams.
 Almost all registered bulls when used in herds making 5000 lbs. to 5000 lbs. of milk testing es will raise the production of the herd when a little sensible culhng is done. When, however, such bulls are used in herds making around H,o60 lbs of 4es milk about equal numbers will increase the production. just main rain the production and decrease the production. The average purebred bull used in the better class sf herds will have little tendency to change the production in the long F1nn.
 Many bulls, however, will greatly increase the production of herds that are considerably better than the av- craze. The Proven Sire program is designed to find these high-ciass bulls and keep them in service as long as possible. The average bull can have five to eight years of active service af ter he has sufficient daughters to show whether he Is good or poor, pro- ided he is given decent care. Take, for example, the good proven sire owned by c. L. Gold and Son of West Cornwall. He became non-breeder and was butchered when just under twelve years old. His poorest pure bred daughter made II ,50e lbs. of milk testing 385 as a fye-year old while his best daughters are capable of making lS,000 or 20.00s lbs. of milk with a fat test above the aver age for the breed. These records are on ce-a-day-milking and could be duplicated in any Connecticut dairy herd where good feed and care are given.
 The Proven Sire program:
 |. Is proven to all owners of pure bred bulls.
 2. Provides for inexpensive milk and butterfat production records on all daughters and their dams
 g. Keeps bulls in service until their value Is known and the good bulls for years thereafter.
 4 Provides Fer the early death of poor sires
 3. Encourages the use of bull pens, breeding crates, and exercising yards. making the life of the bull owner much safer.
 6. Encourages the freeing of herds of costly contagious diseases.
 '. Provides a method whereby cull ccws need no longer be raised.
 The poorest daughter of the Gold l bull. making II .500 lbs. of milk, is better than the good cows in most Connecticut herds.
 The Proven Sire program was ! worked out by a committee consisting of representatives of the State Breed ers' organization. the extension serv- ! ice and the dairy department of the Connecticut Agricultural college. ! Farmers and breeders proclaim that it is practical, workable and sound, and breeders and geneticists say that ] it is the only plan which insures sub stantial increases in milk and butter fat production in good dairy herds. This program is just being put into operation.
 Material in this article taken from one by J. A, Simms, extension dairy man, Storrs, Connecticut. Further in l formation may be obtained from your County agent
 RAYMOND F.. WING,
 G.sunty Agent