92 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



increase in biitterfat production and by a decrease in milk pro- 

 duction. The larger cows excelled the medium and small cows in 

 production of milk and butterfat. The results of this work are being 

 prepared for publication. 



COOPERATIVE BULL ASSOCIATIONS. 



Bull associations haA'e been found an inexpensive but very success- 

 ful means of improving dairy cattle, and have therefore been very 

 popular in sections where dairying is a new industry and the farm- 

 er's resources are limited. A greater number of really substantial 

 cooperative bull associations have been formed this year than in any 

 previous year since the movement started in this country, for out 

 of a total of 82 associations now in operation 40 were organized 

 during the past year. This work has been especially successful in 

 the South. Eequests for assistance from many States resulted in 

 the selection of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and 

 Tennessee for association work. Associations Avere formed in each 

 of these States except one. Work in the Western States was 

 hampered by the lack of a director part of the year, but during the 

 last six months of the year four substantial associations were or- 

 ganized, one each in Montana, Washington, A^'3'oming, and Oregon. 



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN DATKYING. 



The project in community dairy development at Grove City, Pa., 

 which was organized a few years ago as a means of demonstrating 

 the value of intensive work in developing dairy communities, has 

 noAv passed the experimental stage and has shown its value as a con- 

 structive influence in dairying. Many farmers, county agents, and 

 bankers from all over the country have made inquiries or have 

 visited Grove City Avith the idea of undertaking similar develop- 

 ment in their localities. In this enterprise the department has 

 worked in cooperation Avith patrons of the creamery, and with the 

 local breedei-s' associations, the commercial club, and the local 

 banks. The past year Avitnessed the building of 21 silos and the 

 improvement of farm buildings of 112 of the creamery patrons. 



The accredited-herd plan for eradicating tuberculosis and main- 

 taining herds free from that disease has been Avell received. In 

 the Grove City area 327 herds are under supervision of the Bureau 

 of Animal Industry and the Pennsylvania State live-stock sanitary 

 board. Four ncAv clubs having for their object the development, 

 improvement, exhibition, and sale of tuberculosis-free cattle have 

 been organized. 



()[her cattle clubs organized in previous years have generally 

 shoAvn increased membership. The coAv-testing association has been 

 reorganized Avith 39 members and 411 coavs. Interest in purebred 

 dairy cattle has continued to increase; 58 of the creamery patrons 

 purchased 133 registered dairy females and 48 patrons purchased 

 purebred bulls. 



SUPPRESSION OK INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN DAIRY HERDS. 



In connection with the Avork relative to coAV-testing and bull asso- 

 ciations, Avork of an cdu.cational nature has been done to further the 

 prevention and eradication of tuberculosis and contagious abortion. 



