126 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



COW TEST ASSOCIATIONS. 



W. A. McKerrowr, University Farm, St. Paul, Minn. 



"We have just listened to the splendid address of Professor 

 Lee, lauding the great state of Wisconsin as a leader in dairy 

 progress. We all appreciate what Wisconsin has and is doing, 

 but our friends must remember there are other states that are 

 making progress with equal rapidity, but are not quite as old in 

 dairy work. 



Minnesota is noted for ''quality" butter from her 650 co- 

 operative creameries. To vindicate the superior quality of our 

 butter, in the last fifteen National Butter Scoring Contests thir- 

 teen sweepstake awards have been given to Minnesota butter- 

 makers. ( Applause. ) 



More efficient machines with which to manufacture the raw 

 materials, (such as- grain and forage crops) are what I wish to 

 deal with today. 



Such great cows as Pietertje Maid Ormsby, and Duchess 

 Skylard Ormsby which stand as stiperior butter producing cows 

 of all the world, are Minnesota products. We also have in the 

 North Star State other cows that have broken over fifteen 

 world's records during the last two years. I do not say tliis in 

 a boastful way, but simply to show that we have constructive 

 breeders that are accomplishing wonderful results by thorough, 

 practical methods of herd improvement. On the otlier hand, we 

 are milking 1,250,000 cows that do not average over 160 po'inds 

 butterfat per year. The rapid advances in the vaiiies of farm 

 property, the increase in the cost of labor, high taxes, together 

 with the high cost of living, make it important to establish bet- 

 ter methods of dairy production. 



One of the channels through which this development can be 

 brought about most rapidly and economicall}^, is through the use 

 of the cow testing association. We are very grateful to the 

 Danish people in starting the improvement originating with 

 twelve farmers who each agreed to spend one month on his 



