MISCEI.I,ANEOUS NEWS 



in March 191 3, one at Estacion Gardey (district of Tandil), the other 

 at Esiacion Monasterio (District of Chascomus), with the assistance of a 

 large steam creamery. 



These societies are supported by Government : an expert belonging to 

 the Department of Livestock Improvement and Agriculture must arrange 

 with the Managing Committee of the Society to inspect the members' 

 cattle stalls, analyse their milk etc. Every month he must make a re- 

 port showing the results obtained. At the end of the year the members 

 win receive certificates showing the milk yield and proportion of butter fat per 

 cow, as well as the description of each cow and the calves it is nourishing. 

 The expenses form a charge against the Government. 



Not all the five societies are working regularly : the idea, however, 

 has taken root and circumstances are becoming more favourable for the 

 foundation of these institutions. They will not only be able to improve and 

 develop the dairy industry in the country, but will be able to awake the 

 spirit of association among the producers, urge them towards new forms of 

 co-operation, such as the dairy societies and Hvestock improvement syn- 

 dicates which have given such good results in Europe. 



As we have seen, the cow testing societies up to the present formed in 

 Argentina owe their origin not to the initiative and the capital of producers, 

 but rather to the initiative and capital of outside institutions, industrial 

 societies, namely, and the Government. But this is not, adds Berges, a 

 matter for serious reproach: even in countries in which private initiative and 

 the spirit of association are very highly developed, and where there are 

 hundreds of dairy societies, hvestock improvement syndicates etc., the 

 Govemmeats grant the cow-testing societies important subsidies. 



In Argentina, in view of the conditions in which dairying is carried on, 

 the intervention of the State is for the present indispensable, if it is desired 

 to ensure the foundation and permanence of these institutions. In Europe 

 the feeding of cattle is very costly; it is therefore clearly desirable to get rid 

 of the cows that consume more than they produce and not to give others 

 nourishment in excess of that scientifically shown to be necessary for their 

 requirements : hence the desirabihty of instituting a system of supervision 

 over the production and of seeking out cows that give the largest quantity 

 of milk and butter fat and the nourishment of which costs least. In Argen- 

 tina the conditions are very different : generally a cow produces more than 

 it consumes. In contrast with the European custom, the cow is generally 

 not valued according to its certified yield of milk and butter, but accord- 

 ing to the purity of its breed. In Argentina, observes Berges, the only way 

 of obtaining real authority for the certificates is, at least in the first few 

 years, by an official system of testing. 



This method, in addition to introducing scientific principles of improving 

 dairy cows, will raise the price of milk and thus many farmers will abandon 

 the improvement of butchers' beasts to devote themselves to that of dairy 

 cows : in this way, the excessive slaughtering of cows and heifers, which 

 constitute? a very serious danger for the national wealth in livestock, wiU 

 be put a stop to. 



