412 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc. 



I would like to go into details regarding tliese associations, but 

 our President referred to the fact that he hoped my talk would have 

 an end, and I am just a little afraid of that cue he's holding so 

 threateningly. I have never been where 1 "got the hook," although 

 I have often heard of it; but I want to refer to the fact that at the 

 same date (July 1), there were a hundred and sixty-three associa- 

 tions scattered throughout the dairy states of the country. Through 

 these associations hundreds of men have learned that they had been 

 keeping cows year after year that did not pay for their feed. They 

 have learned that they have wasted many dollars in feeding some 

 cows; that the production of their herds was many gallons of milk 

 less than it might have been because of feeding unbalanced rations 

 and under-feeding some cows; that many pounds of butter fat had 

 been wasted in skim milk because their separators were not properly 

 adjusted, or a screw had slipped; that they were paying high prices 

 for mixed rations when they could mix their own at a lower cost. 



The members of the oldest association in this country have doubled 

 the profitable production of their herds by studying their record and 

 following the lessons that they teach. 



The cow-testing association is the most efficient, economical and 

 workable way in which to increase the returns from the dairy herd. 

 The cow-testing association deals chiefly with improvement through 

 the female side of the herd. The selection of good cows is not all in 

 the development of the herd. That the bull is half the herd is an old 

 and well-established statement. I want to call your attention for 

 a few moments to the difference in bulls as regards their value as 

 sires. For example, I Avill take table records of two bulls of the 

 well-known Jersey herd of the Missouri College. The first of these 

 bulls was Missouri Rooter. 



Below is given a summary of the record of his daughter and their 

 dams. 



Average milk yield. 

 Average per cent, fat, 

 Average butter yield, 



4381 



4.95 

 216 



The bull that 1 will compare with this one was Missouri Rooter 

 3rd. The record of his daughter and their dams are as follows: 



Average milk yield. 

 Average per cent, fat, 

 Average fat yield, .. 



6005 



4.80 

 384 



