96 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



ization used was what we call a Breeders' Association. The 

 basis of this is simply an agreement between the farmers that 

 tliey will use a pure-bred bull. The membership cost amounts to 

 something like $i or $1.50 to begin with and sometimes runs 

 as high as $3.00. The investment in this is very small and it is 

 simply an organization agreeing to use a certain breed. The 

 first one of this kind was formed in Wisconsin in 1906 at Wau- 

 kesha. This organization overcomes the first difficulty men- 

 tioned — that of indifference, it creates enthusiasm in a commun- 

 ity, they come together and talk it over and get to understand the 

 importance of purebreeding, and the time and money spent i^ 

 by no means lost. 



The one that came later is the organization of Co-operative 

 Bull Association. The first of this kind was formed in Michigan, 

 in 1908. This kind of an organization embraces all the benefits 

 of the first, but goes a little further.' The farmers come together 

 and organize the same way as in the first place, except that in 

 this case they incorporate under the state laws, because they 

 handle more money than in the Breeders' Associations. They 

 raise a sufficient sum of money to purchase pure-bred sires to 

 supply the membership. These sires are placed in different parts 

 of the community where the membership is located and they are 

 kept for two years at each place, and after that period of time 

 they are moved to the next place. The places where the bulls 

 are kept are called blocks and we number them i, 2, 3, and so 

 on, and the bulls are changed from one block to the next every 

 two years, according to the rules of the organization. This la 

 the simple plan of this kind of an organization. The farmers 

 put their money all together, tliey raise the money and for this 

 buy bulls which are owned by the association and handled and 

 directed according to the rules of the organization. 



I don't want to put one association ahead of another, there 

 is a place for all kinds of them, but I am going to discuss only 

 the last form. In discussing this matter, I wish that you would 

 ask questions, although the time is short, because I don't know 

 just exactly where you want the most discussion. 



I am going to describe the plan, and while I am talking if 

 any question comes up, I wish you would ask them. One of the 

 first things to do is for the secretary to write to the Secretary of 



