('()\v-Testin(4 Associations. 149 



COW-TESTING ASSOCIATIONS. 



By r. JouBERT, Assistant Instriictoi' in Dairying. Klsenburg School 



of Agricultiive. 



The keeping- ot records in an intelligible and dependable torni of tl)e 

 milk production of dairy cows is very hirgely responsible for the 

 rapid development and improvements whicli have taken place in our 

 dair}^ herds in the past few years. In this respect the breeders of 

 Fries cattle have been doing good work, especially in keeping records 

 of heavy producers. The statement that the grade cow has no value 

 as a breeder has little weight among dairymen who know the real 

 situation. It must be recognized that, for many years to come, the 

 great bulk of our dairy products will be obtained from grade cows. 



It is not every one Avho can go in for pure-))re(l dairy females, and 

 from our best graded female stock must come our futiire dairy herds. 

 It is because the grade cow has a real value as a breeder that our 

 dairymen must take up cow-testing work, so that they may know 

 more definitely from which cows it will be worth while to save the 

 heifer calves, and also which cows are the most jjrofitable to keep. 



The Origin of Cow-TESTiNCi and the (trowth of the Movement. 



The keeping of milk records of cows had its origin in Denmark in 

 the year 1892. The first association for carrying on cow-testing was 

 established at Askov, in Denmark, in 1895. Since tlien the move- 

 ment has grown with increasing rapidity, and at the i)resent time its 

 branches ha\e extended into every i)art of the world where the 

 dairying industry is regarded ^s important. 



Cow-testing has been introduced into South Africa at a com- 

 paratively recent date, and is at the ])resent time almost entirely 

 confined to pure-bred herds. 



In 1913 the first cow-testing association was established in South 

 Africa at Darling (Cape), under the supervision of the Darling 

 Creamery. During the period of the v.ar the work was discontinued, 

 but even in the course of its short existence it did some sjjlendid work, 

 and enlightened the farmers on many hidden facts of the industry. 

 Later on, similar associations were started at Mooi Biver, Xatal, and 

 in the Orange Free State. Members of these associations agree to 

 submit their entire herd of cows for purposes of ascertaining their 

 production by means of weights of milk and tests of butter-fat. 

 Towards the end of 1916 the Friesland Cattle Breeders' Association of 

 South Africa decided on an official milk record scheme for Friesland 

 cows, the recording work of which is now being carried out in accord- 

 ance with the most up-to-date methods by the officers of the Dairy 

 Division of the Department of Agriculture. 



With these associations (apart from the Friesland Breeders' 

 Association) the test is carried out in the following manner : A man 

 experienced in handling the Gerber test, and with the required know- 

 ledge in dairying, is engaged by the association, and visits each herd 



