360 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



vigorous effort to induce farmers and stockmen to procure and use pure- 

 bred sires rather than grades and scrubs. The plan is not only to advo- 

 cate the individual ownership of good sires, as far as possible, but also 

 to promote the establishment of associations for the joint ownership 

 of males. 



It will be the duty of the field agent in charge to present a practical 

 method of live stock improvement to individuals and gatherings of farm- 

 ers and breeders. As far as possible he will furnish information relative 

 to the description, characteristics and adaptability of the various breeds. 

 He will also lend assistance personally in the establishment of associa- 

 tions for the joint ownership of sires and the promotion of improved 

 breeding. Through the agency of the State Live Stock Breeders' Asso- 

 ciations, lists of breeders with pure-bred bulls for sale can also be fur- 

 nished. If you are personally interested in live stock improvement and 

 are willing to assist in interesting the people of your community, the 

 services of the field agent can be secured without cost to you or the 

 people you ma^^ succeed in interesting. Details of the work will be given 

 upon request. Yours very truly, 



Field Agent in Charge. 



The field agent calls upon the individual stock owner, looks over his 

 animals, presents the co-operative plan to each man personally and se- 

 cures data relative to the following direct questions, viz.: (1.) How 

 many cows do you own? (2.) What breed or combination of breeds 

 are they? (3.) What were they bred to last year? (4.) If you were to 

 conclude to breed them to registered sires continuously, which breed 

 would you prefer? Where the owners of eighty cows have signified a 

 preference for some one breed the field agent then endeavors to induce 

 the owners of forty more to adopt the same breed, thus securing suffi- 

 cient for an association of three groups. The individuals are then in- 

 vited to meet at some suitable place during an evening to discuss the 

 proposition from every view point. 



PLAN OF CO-OPERATIVE BULL ASSOCIATIONS. 



When the owners of one hundred and twenty common cows decide upon 

 some particular breed from which to select males for improvement, then 

 an association may be formed. This particular form of organization 

 containing one hundred and twenty cows is divided into three groups 

 of forty cows each, with one bull for each group. There may be from 

 two or three to seven or eight men in each group, depending on the size 

 of the herds. Or there may be more groups in the association, depending 

 on the willingness of the people of the community. 



Each member joining an association is required to sign the following 

 agreement, viz.: We, the undersigned, desiring to organize a bull asso- 

 ciation do hereby promise to pay equal sums of money on or before 



for which we agree to take equal shares of stock in afore- 



said association when organized. This association is organized for the 



purchase of three or more registered bulls, provided 



the groups of forty cows each can be secured. The understanding is that 

 these bulls are to be owned in common and changed from group to 

 group every two years, thus providing service for six yeare. 



The field agent and the college aid only in procuring the sires by fur- 



