148 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



Such remarkable results are made possible by the farmer 

 knowing exactly what profit each animal has made; and 

 naturally the unprofitable ones are disposed of as soon as 

 possible. As a result, the average production of milk for 

 the entire country of Denmark has increased surprisingly 

 within a few years. It is safe to say the improvement in 

 production has been faster in Denmark during the last 15 

 years than in any other part of the world. The cost of the 

 Test Association per cow in Denmark varies from 30 to 45 

 cents in addition to the board of the tester. The tester, or 

 Control Assistant, receives from $ 100 to $ 150 per year in 

 addition to his board, which is supplied by the farmer for 

 whom he is testing. The positions are much sought after, 

 on account of the excellent opportunity to gain good practical 

 experience. 



The first cooperative Cow Test Association in America 

 was established at Fremont, Newaygo Co., Mich., in 1905. 

 Up to the present time a number of such associations have 

 been formed and are meeting with a fair amount of suc- 

 cess. The plan followed is patterned after the Danish, but 

 the cost per cow is higher on account of the higher scale 

 of wages. The total cost need not exceed $1 to $1.50 per 

 cow annually in addition to the board of the tester. 



INFLUENCE OF THE AGE OF THE COW ON THE YIELD AND 

 RICHNESS OF MILK 



One question of considerable importance that arises in 

 connection with the selection of the individual cow is the 

 influence of the age of the animal on the richness and yield 

 of milk. The dairyman finds a certain heifer, for example, 

 to have an unusually high or low per cent of fat or yield of 



