618 ANNUAL tlEPORT OE* THE Off. Doc. 



scrub sire and the saving of calves, from bulls, bred to females for 

 no other purpose than to freshen them again. The lack of good 

 breeding among our cattle today is not due to the lack of the intro- 

 duction of good blood at an early date. Shorthorns were brought 

 into Michigan in 1843, Galloways in 1851, Herefords in 18G4, Aber- 

 deen Angus in 1884, llolsteins and Jerseys were also introduced at 

 comparatively early dates. The records of Michigan Fair Associations 

 from the time of the organization of the State Fair in 1849 would 

 seem to indicate that an unusual activity in pedigreed livestock breed- 

 ing was manifested in the earlier days, but this seems to have been 

 confined to the so-called breeders. 



The initial step in livestock breeding for improvement confronting 

 us to-day is an exceedingly simple one. We do not need to undertake 

 the establishment of new breeds, as there are plenty now in existence 

 to choose from, which judiciously chosen will respond favorably to 

 the conditions to which they are adapted. The first step in line of 

 livestock improvement must come from the cessation of the practice 

 of the admixing of the blood of various breeds and of using grade and 

 scrub sires. 



It would seem highly desirable that some form of co-operation in 

 breeding methods should be established by communities, such for in- 

 stance as the joint ownership and use of males by several parties 

 rather than one. One cannot conceive of any logical reason why 

 several men in a community could not form a co-partnership in the 

 ownership and use of good sires. If such a plan could be followed 

 the good influence of superior sires would become more far-reaching 

 and fewer males in all would be needed than in the case of individual 

 ownership. 



Dean Shaw of the Michigan Agricultural College, believing that 

 some form of co-operation in the ownership and use of pedigreed 

 sires could be made satisfactory to the members of such an Associa- 

 tion, submitted a recommendation to the State Board of Agriculture 

 in December, 1907, urging the necessity for immediate action on the 

 part of the College toward the development of co-operative organiza- 

 tions among the breeders and farmers of the State, designed to 

 stimulate livestock improvement. This recommendation was ac- 

 cepted, adopted and the Agricultural Department authorized to 

 undertake the work. In the organization of breeders associations in 

 Michigan five chief aims are sought: 



1. The improvement of the farmer himself, not only as a raiser of 

 stock, but as a tiller of the soil, a business man, a citizen and a man. 



2. The improvement of the flocks and herds of the state in their 

 productivity and uniformity. Productive ability is being increased 

 by the continued use of prepotent pure bred sires. By adopting a 

 single breed for an entire locality, buyers are attracted and a local 

 market created. 



3. The principle and spirit of co-operation is fostered by co- 

 operating in the purchase and use of breeding stock, the farmer learns 

 to act in unison with his fellows and is able upon occasion, to ex- 

 tend the same principle into other fields. 



4. The farmer is trained in business organization and conduct. 

 Bural communities are conservative, even to a fault, and agriculture 

 is seriously crippled by the lack of business methods and business sys- 

 tem. 



