100 Cooperation in Agriculture 



be adapted to all classes of live-stock and make progress 

 in animal breeding more rapid and sure through the fol- 

 lowing means : 



"By reducing the cost, where the herds are small and 

 conveniently located, by using sires jointly ; 



"By making the most of the comparatively few high- 

 class sires that are produced in any breeding project ; 



"By conserving the proven sires and using them as 

 long as they can do service, changing them from one group 

 to another to prevent unwise close breeding ; 



"By creating community centers in certain classes or 

 breeds of pedigreed live-stock and attracting buyers to 

 these communities, thus insuring better markets for the 

 animals produced." 



The Minnesota plan, which may also be applied to the 

 different kinds of animal-breeding, is of interest in showing 

 the method that has been adopted there to bring about 

 practical cooperative breeding work. The United States 

 Department of Agriculture, the State Experiment Station, 

 and the owners of the herds have formed an organization 

 known as a circuit council. This council is composed of 

 one representative from each of these organizations. It 

 has charge of the breeding operations, and it devises means 

 for raising funds to purchase sires outside of the organiza- 

 tion. The council employs a specialist who visits each 

 herd in the circuit at least once a month for the purpose 

 of testing the cows for milk and butter-fat, to assist in 

 the selection of the breeding animals, and to give the owner 

 expert advice in every possible way, the members agree- 

 ing to follow the directions of the expert when approved 

 by the council. The Department and the Experiment 



