CO-OPEEATIVE DAIRY SOCIETIES 45 



feed them better. And as he received the skim milk and butter- 

 milk back from the dair}^, he was able to feed one or more 

 pigs, which he could deliver to the co-operative slaughter-house. 

 Prom cows and pigs he obtained an increased amount of manure 

 which resulted in an increased yield of his crops — altogether a 

 great progress in the cultivation of the small-holdings. As 

 the small-holdings cover more than ojie^ianth of the cultivated 

 area, it is evident that this increased agricultural production 

 is of considerable benefit to the country. 



Similarly with the peasants. There are more than 70,000 

 farms in their possession, nearly all freehold, occupying over 

 -n 70 per cent, of the cultivated area^ OTtKese yeomen farmers 

 nearly 90 per cent, are members of a co-operative dairy society. 

 In former times, that is before 1882, an average peasant farm of^; 

 about 70 acres would keep normally 8 cows. The yield of these 

 was hardly above 380 gallons of milk or 110 lbs. of butter. 

 For this the farmer would get about 5rL per lb. below the price 

 of ** estate butter." The co-operative dairies changed all this. 

 The number of cows was increased, and their quality improved. 

 Eleven cows would be the average number on a farm of 70 

 acres ; their milk yield was increased to 550 gallons with 200 

 lbs. of butter. The quantity of butter produced per farm 

 increased from 880 lbs. to 2200 lbs., and each pound reahsed 

 full market price instead of o6?. below. 



The number of cows in Denmark was in 1881 899,000, and 

 in 1914 1,810,000.1 The yield of milk per cow and the per- 

 centage of fat in the milk were increased, 2 and the fat was more 

 completely utilised for butter-making. At the same time the 

 increased consumption of margarine set a corresponding (]uantity 

 of butter free for export. From all this has resulted a rapidly 

 increased export of butter from Denmark. 



Export of Danish Butter. 



Tons, 



1881-85 15,630 



1801-95 48,070 



1901-05 76,044 



1011-15 99,420 3 



An industry of that magnitude, made possible only by 

 co-operation, has, of necessity, had a far-reaching elTect on 



' See Appendix IT., Table 10. 2 n,i^^^ Table 11. » Ihid., Table 13. 



