268 LIVE STOCK IMPROVEMENT 



the leading shows for the best animals of the breed. They 

 also lay down rules for the registration of animals. 



At some of the principal shows and exhibitions, money, 

 set aside by the associations, is used for futurity prizes. 

 Animals to compete for futurity prizes must be nominated 

 some time in advance of the show. This encourages the 

 breeder to strive to get the best breeding stock and to 

 take the best possible care of the progeny. 



Registers of merit or advanced registers are instituted 

 by the dairy cattle breed associations. The purpose of 

 these associations is to encourage high production of milk 

 and butter fat and to keep track of the best producers, so 

 that prospective purchasers may select animals from good 

 ancestors, and breeders may breed more intelligently and 

 effectively. 



Tests for advanced registration are of two kinds : ofi&cial 

 and semi-official. The official test lasts for seven days. 

 In this test the tester visits the farm, sees that the cow is 

 milked out dry, sees the milking before the test begins, and 

 then stays on the farm during the entire test, watches every 

 milking, weighs the milk, and makes a butter-fat test. 

 The semi-official test covers one year, or as long as the 

 lactation period of the cow lasts. A representative of a 

 state agricultural college comes to the farm once every 

 month, on days unannounced to the owner, and remains 

 for two days. All feed as well as the milk is weighed and 

 recorded. The butter-fat content of the milk is also 

 found. The weighing of the milk on the other days of the 

 month, and the two days' test of the quality of the milk, is 

 taken as the record for the month. 



The table on the opposite page sets forth the Advanced 

 Register requirements of the different dairy breeds. 



