18 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. [Pub. Doc. 



civic organizations. The purpose of this campaign has been to 

 teach consumers the food vahie of milk, that milk at present 

 prices is a cheaper source of animal food than any other ma- 

 terial on the market, and that it is indispensable to a sound diet, 

 particularly for growing children. This campaign has notably 

 increased the consumption of milk in this State. 



There is a strong tendency for the large milk contractors to 

 buy less milk in Massachusetts and more milk in the northern 

 States, particularly in Vermont. This is probably due to the 

 fact that they are able to more easily obtain their supply from 

 certain intensive dairy regions and ship this to Boston in car- 

 load lots. It is also due to the greater prevalence of Jersey and 

 Guernsey herds in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, which 

 supply a higher grade of milk than our prevailing Holstein 

 herds. The gradual tendency for milk dealers to buy Massa- 

 chusetts milk on a straight can basis, without offering a bonus 

 for increased fat content, has led the Massachusetts farmers to 

 purchase Holstein cows, which give a larger quantity of milk, 

 regardless of its richness, as these men have never received a 

 larger price for rich milk, and the inducement for the produc- 

 tion of such milk has been lost sight of. A careful study should 

 be made of this situation to see if it is not possible to increase 

 the production of milk by a change in this practice. 



The raising of heifer calves from best cows and pure-bred 

 bulls should be encouraged. There is a tendency for the large 

 farms near Massachusetts cities, many of which have unusually 

 fine herds, to sell their cahes at birth, and buy mature cows 

 when they are needed. The practice of raising these calves 

 should be encouraged. In order to bring this about, a plan is 

 being encouraged whereby young calves can be sent to other 

 parts of this State or to other States where there are creameries 

 and where farmers have plenty of skim milk to feed to the 

 calves the first year and plenty of cheap pasturage to raise 

 them to maturity. It is hoped that a co-operative arrangement 

 of this sort will bring about a change in this condition. 



Cow-testing associations should be established throughout 

 Massachusetts to encourage the breeding of better cows, and 

 this should accompany the more extensive raising of heifer 

 calves. 



