14 
farmers' BULLETIN 993. 
ERADICATING DISEASE. 
Cooperative bull associations play a considerable part in combat¬ 
ing diseases of dairy stock. While unorganized dairy-farming oper¬ 
ations have a tendency to spread abortion, tuberculosis, and other 
communicable diseases, the policy of the bull associations works in 
the opposite direction. For example, an Iowa association will not 
allow any of its members to receive the benefits of the association 
until his herd has been tested for tuberculosis and all reactors elimi¬ 
nated. One farmer who did not dispose of the reactors after the 
tuberculin test was applied was refused the use of bulls until he com¬ 
plied with the rules of the association. 
The educational work of each association makes the members alert 
to prevent the introduction and spread of disease of any kind. The 
well-managed bull association requires that the cattle of each member 
shall be tested for tuberculosis and takes every known precaution 
to prevent the introduction of infectious abortion. 
HOW TO ORGANIZE A BULL ASSOCIATION. 
Success in the operation of a cooperative bull association depends 
a great deal on the care that is used in its organization. To begin 
with, those interested should obtain as much information as possible 
regarding the plan of operation and should consult with the county 
agricultural agent. He may be able to give valuable information 
from experience, or at least will know where such information can be 
obtained, and he can help greatly in starting the organization. If a 
county agricultural agent is not available, write to the State agricul¬ 
tural college or to the Dairy Division of the United States Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture at Washington, D. C., either of which will be 
glad to give advice and assistance. It is advisable, if possible, to visit 
some near-by bull association in order to study the methods of oper¬ 
ating, for the more information that is available the better will be 
the prospects for a well-organized and successful association. 
Write to your secretary of state, inclosing a copy of Articles II 
and IV of the constitution suggested in this bulletin, to indicate the 
type of incorporation desired, and ask for blanks and all necessary 
information for incorporating a bull association under the laws of 
the State. Mention, especially, that the organization permits only 
one vote for each member. It is usually best to engage a local law¬ 
yer to assist in the incorporation. 
The territory should be mapped out into provisional districts 
where blocks of the association may be formed, to serve as a guide 
in organizing. The final arrangement of blocks can not be definitely 
settled, of course, until after the association is organized and is 
ready to purchase bulls. In order to bring the bull-association plan 
