22 ACKICILTIRE OF MAINE. 



The breeders of dairy cattle in the United States have demon- 

 strated to the world their superiority, by breeding, feeding and 

 developing the World's Champion cow of every breed. As a 

 result of this we are today exporting hundreds of dairy cows at 

 high prices to Japan, Argentine Republic and other countries. 

 What the dairyman in Maine needs is more cooperation in cow 

 test associations and community breeding associations. The 

 report of the last International Dairying Congress states that 

 many of the best associations in the old countries have increased 

 the production of their herds 40 per cent. Sweden has 700 cow 

 test associations, Denmark 500. 



The next step following cow test associations is community 

 breeding, which brings a full measure of success to dairy farm- 

 ers. There are some very successful associations of this kind 

 in the western states, especially the Guernsey Breeders' Asso- 

 ciation in W'isconsin. The sales of this association amount to 

 nearly three hundred thousand dollars in one year, buyers com- 

 ing from foreign countries. 



I think we have reason to congratulate ourselves on the health 

 of our cattle in Maine. A very small percentage of our cattle 

 are affected with tuberculosis and this is going to mean a good 

 deal to the live stock breeders of the future. Tuberculosis in 

 the human family is being studied and means of prevention 

 devised with an energy never dreamed of before. Every favor- 

 able avenue of infection will in the future be a target for phy- 

 sicians and scientists. 



Perhaps it would be well to make a brief review of the work 

 the past year. We have been working all through the year to 

 stimulate and encourage cow test associations. Mr. A. M. 

 Goodman of the United States Dairy Bureau was in the state 

 from April 14 to April 25. Meetings were held in Readfield, 

 W^aterville, Hiram, Troy, Freedom, Charleston, Auburn and 

 Waterford. As a result of these meetings a cow test associa- 

 tion was formed in Hiram which has now 28 members. Mr. 

 Harold Straw is the official tester, and it is an active and wide 

 awake association. Mr. Hugh Fergus of the Dairy Bureau at 

 W^ashington will be in the state early in 191 5, and it is expected 

 that several new associations will be organized, as much interest 

 in this work is being manifested in many sections of the state. 

 In the successful management of these associations it is hard to 



