192 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



largest item of expenses. The herds that he is to test should 

 be arranged in a circuit, his board, lodging and transportation 

 being furnished by those for whom he is working. Usually 

 each member pays in proportion to the number of cows tested, 

 the tester keeping an accurate account of each cow's production 

 and reporting the same to the owner. With an annual report of 

 performance from a disinterested person and a knowledge of 

 what the cow has consumed as every intelligent feeder must have, 

 it is easy to decide which cows to retain and which to dispose 

 of immediately. 



Cheap Investment. 



Fire, accident, and life insurance are looked upon as sane 

 and businesslike investments. Why not make the herd insure 

 itself against loss? It is possible to secure a competent man to 

 do the work in the way indicated at fifty dollars per month. 

 If each herd is tested once in two months, it will be possible 

 for him to handle 20 herds of 40 cows each or 800 cows per 

 year. These figures assume that the herds are within easy driv' 

 ing distance and arrangements are fairly convenient, for the 

 tester should not be compelled to go so rapidly that observations 

 cannot be made and time had for free discussion with the owner. 

 The financial statement for a separate herd would be about as 

 follows : 



Cost to test a herd per year $30.00 



Cost to test one cow per year 75 



40 COWS' worth $60.00 each $2400.00 



$30.00 is 1^^ per cent on the investment in cattle of produc- 

 ing age. No safter or better means can be devised to protect 

 the best interests of the herd. If no men are available to con- 

 duct the test, they may easily be obtained by sending the bright 

 boys of the community to the Agricultural Cbllege where they 

 are soon taught how to keep herd records, test milk and many 

 other useful things. 



