DAIRY MEETING. 1 59 



COW TEST ASSOCIATIONS. 

 By S. C. Thompson, State Dairy Instructor. 



I shall take but little of your time in this paper on "Cow Test 

 Associations," but I hope that I may mention some point which 

 Avill appeal to you as dairymen and creamery men and thereby 

 ■cause a discussion of this important subject, which shall bear 

 fruit and be the starting point of more systematic and careful 

 ■selection of dairy animals. 



"Cow Test Associations" are comparatively new in this coun- 

 try, although enough has been accomplished to attest their great 

 worth. In Denmark where they originated, they have become 

 very popular and are accomplishing such results, that even the 

 most skeptical must admit their great value. Institute workers 

 and dairy lecturers all over our country have urged the necessity 

 of a carefully selected herd for profit, but notwithstanding this, 

 there are comparatively few individuals who know exactly what 

 •each cow is doing in the way of production, and while almost 

 -every one realizes the importance, they neglect it because of the 

 .amount of bother, which seems large, together vvith an element 

 of uncertainty as to the amount of knowledge required for suc- 

 cess, also a doubt as to their own ability to interpret results. 



The object of the Test Association is to interest collectively, 

 w^here individuals seem to falter, and accomplish through some 

 agent a result not otherwise obtained. The plan adopted in 

 Michigan is to form an association of about thirty members who 

 sign an agreement for their mutual benefit ; to provide means for 

 co-operation of the members for testing each individual cow at 

 stated periods for one year and thus determine their production 

 in pounds of milk and butter fat. They agree to pay a certain 

 sum. usually one dollar per cow per year, to defray the expense 

 of taking samples and making tests ; and to board the person thus 

 employed and take him to the next member. With thirty mem- 

 bers, one man could be employed who would visit each member 

 once every month and weigh and test two milkings. 



The records which should be preserved for reference, should 

 "be kept on uniform blanks which the Department of Agriculture 

 would be glad to furnish for the benefit of having the results on 

 file in their office. The other expense to the members would be 



