i88 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



In Canada cow testing is a well-established practice. 

 And it is practised to some purpose. Thus in Ontario 

 farmers report that, thanks to it, their output per cow has 

 within eight years been raised from 800 dollars to over 1,700 

 dollars. Elsewhere the milk yield, which in 1912 stood 

 at 5,405 lb., had gone up to 792 lb. By dint of useful 

 breeding, by the way, also the yield of wool had gone up 

 from only 1-85 lb. per sheep, in 1840, and within the last 

 twenty years, from 5-5 lb., to 684 lb. 



The improvement of live stock is carried on co-operativel}^ 

 with advantage, in other ways than this. Governments 

 do so much in the way of encouraging improvement of 

 local breeds by mating female animals with better stallions, 

 bulls, boars and tups, that one might almost be led to 

 consider this work as one marked out for patronage rather 

 than self-help. However, Government or other assistance 

 is generally given in the shape of encouragement to form 

 co-operative live stock improvement societies under the 

 direction of their own members, not as a matter to be kept 

 permanently under outside direction. And the co-operative 

 method is really the most recommendable. For one thing, 

 it promises to attract greater attention than has thus far 

 been given to the female side of the pedigree. The sire does 

 not answer for all. Its influence generally addresses itself 

 rather to form than to the more practical qualities of animals, 

 such as milking. And co-operative organisation also creates 

 a warmer interest in members. Co-operative breeding socie- 

 ties are organised in a variety of ways, which this is not 

 quite the place to discuss. 



Live stock improvement with the help of Co-operation 

 is carried further, as a rule with good effect, in Switzerland, 

 by the organisation of pedigree breeding societies.^ Swit- 

 zerland is happy in the possession of three breeds of cattle 

 which command a world-wide market, to wit, the brown 

 Zug breed, the speckled Berne or Simmenthal breed, 

 and the black Fribourg breed — which last named in all 

 qualities except coat closely resembles the second. Bulls 



^ For particulars consult " Co-operation in Agriculture," pp. 199 

 to 221. 



