114 



CITY MILK SUPPLY 



versity and kept account of all the feed they consumed and of the milk 

 and butterfat they produced. The record of the cows from five of the 

 herds together with the cost, at the market price of feed, of the milk and 

 butterfat produced by the different cows in exactly one year is given in 

 Table 36. 



TABLE 36. BEST AND WORST Cows IN FIVE HERDS (FRASER) 



By comparing the amount of milk, of fat and the cost thereof, the 

 difference in the earning capacity of the several cows is shown in a striking 

 manner. The best cow of all produced over 10 times as much milk as 

 the poorest cow and produced it at 56 cts. per 100 Ib., in marked contrast 

 to the $2.77 required by the poorest cow to produce the same amount. 



Cow-testing Associations. In order that farmers may rid their herds 

 of unprofitable animals cow-testing associations have been formed. The 

 idea was originated by a woman in Denmark and after 3 years of agitation 

 resulted in the formation of the first association on May 1, 1905. The 

 idea spread to all of the principal dairying countries of the world. 



The Newaygo County Dairy Testing Association of Fremont, Mich., 

 founded by Helmer Rabild, was the first in the United States. In 4 

 years it increased the average fat yield of all its cows 49.5 Ib. The asso- 

 ciations are generally organized by dairymen acting in cooperation with 

 the State Experiment Station, the farmers usually paying so much per 

 cow to become members and agreeing to do certain things, such as to 

 carry the tester to the next farm, etc. The station supplies the tester 

 who is often a student working under the direction of a more experienced 

 man. The tester not only does the particular work for which he is hired 

 but interests the members of the association in better methods of feed- 

 ing and caring for the herd and in other matters pertaining to the farm 



