230 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



CO-OPERATIVE BULL ASSOCIATION. 



Bulletin from Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture Prepared by J. G. Winkjer. 



Co-operative bull associations are formed by farmers for 

 the joint ownership, use, and exchange of high-class, pure-bred 

 bulls. In addition they may encourage careful selections of 

 cows and calves, introduce better methods of feeding, help their 

 members market dairy stock and dairy products, intelligently 

 fight contagious diseases of cattle, and in other ways assist in 

 lifting the dairy business to a higher level. Incidentally, the 

 educational value of such an organization is great. 

 Conservative But Steady Growth 



Co-operative bull associations have existed in Denmark 

 since 1874, and in 1906 the number there had grown to 1,095, 

 with a total membership of 26,200, owning 1,369 dairy bulls. 

 In the United States the first co-operative bull association of 

 which record exists was organized in 1908 by the Michigan 

 Agricultural College. On July i, 1916, there were 32 active 

 bull associations in this country, with a total membership- of 

 650, owning about 120 pure-bred bulls. The following tabu- 

 lation shows the gradual but constant growth of bull associa- 

 tions in the United States up to the present : 



statement showing growth of co-operative bull associations In the United 

 States to July 1, 1916 



State— 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 



Michigan 1 4 7 6 10 



Minnesota 1 1 1 1 



North Dakota 1 



Maryland . . . . . . 1 



Vermont 



Wisconsin 



Connecticut 



Maine 



Oregon 



Oklahoma 



Iowa 



South Carolina 



Massachusetts 



North Carolina 



Illinois 



Total 1 5 8 7 13 20 21 22 32 



*In the 22 associations there were 540 members owning 3,600 cows 



and 90 bulls. 



913 



1914 



1915* 



1916 



15 



15 



14 



14 



2 



2 



2 



3 



2 



1 



1 





1 



1 



1 





. . 



1 



1 





. . 



1 



1 





. . 



. . 



1 





•• 







1 





