Breeders' and Growers' Associations 99 



general promotion of their object. These organizations 

 may also act as agents for the members in buying feed and 

 other supplies. They may assist in the distribution of 

 farm crops, develop markets for the stock and products 

 by advertising, and develop better business methods for 

 the individual in a variety of ways. 



It has been the experience in Wisconsin that an asso- 

 ciation should not be too large. Rather there should 

 be an association for each breed in each community, or 

 at least in each county. The formation of a number of 

 associations leads to a healthy rivalry among them that 

 is a distinct advantage to the dairy industry. These 

 associations may be federated as they are in European 

 countries. 



Cooperative cattle-breeding by the federal government, 

 the state, and the farmers in Minnesota. In Minnesota, 

 the cooperative breeding of milking shorthorns was un- 

 dertaken in 1907 by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture and the Minnesota Experiment Station in 

 cooperation with the owners of ten herds of shorthorn 

 cattle. The aim of this effort is outlined by Handschin 1 

 as follows : 



" First, the reestablishing of profitable milking qualities 

 in the shorthorn, combined with the conformation and 

 ability to lay on flesh and make a good beef carcass when 

 the animal is sent to the block. 



"Second, the working out of a practical system of 

 cooperation and community breeding that can eventually 



1 " Cooperative Breeding of Milking Shorthorns in Minnesota," by 

 W. F. Handschin, of the American Breeders' Association, Vol. 6, p. 

 301. 



