HERD-TESTINU ASSOCIATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1016, 4 January 1911, Page 8

HERD-TESTINU ASSOCIATIONS.

;7 OF SUCCESS. " Cow-testing'- associations,. . institutions which appear to. have made a good impression in New Zealand, hare'not taken on. Well.in the Uiiitol States., .Although. the v first ; .c6w-testing asSbpiatiorj in America wasi organised' five 'years- ■ago/..-there are only .'.twenty-nine iu' operation, at, tlis present, time. '-, This . is' a . big contrast •with.-; experienced ;■ -Five.'.years aj;S''the formation of the first association i&"DdnuiarK 170 associations were operat-' iiig. '■ .These facts have been investigated by Professor Fred.Basmussen, and, in view of...the stage New • Zealand. has reached in the hcrd-testin); movement, his .caiicluBions are of:* considerable interest} 1 1 PrS-/ ftsso'r Ea'smusse'n thinks.that the figures of 'America and' Denmark teiid to. show that the conditions iii the States are not very favourable for the success of these associatibns. He.holds that the prime factors, essential to an active cow-testing association are; (1) a. dense cow . population ,-'.(2),' the farmer being; dependent on the profit of his herd fbr an income; (3) cprtmunity spirit for co-operation; and (4) ah'' Outside force* to get the association started and keep it gbiiig.

America does' not fulfil these "essentials," as a few facts about its dairying business will , show; . "Although," says Professor Rasmus'seri, "the total value, of the dairy'products" irt' the United : States has reached the enormous (Sum-.of 800,000,000 dollars, this sum is small considering the.'area from;which it is ■ drawn arid theroafe comparatively few sections es yet -where the'eow .population is dense, enough to warrant a rapid development of. the- cow test' association"■, movement. Again, -in- the iniilt shipping- sections,.' where there" is ' a sufficiently'largo number of cows, the test association-work does N not appeal very- strongly, to the farmer, as it is hard to get him to understand the value of having the milk tested of the individual cjws in , the herds. Furthermore, many farmers keeping cows are not depending.o t n the dairy herd for'their main income;'and if has' not been necessary for them to make the herd an object.'of detailed studj\in order to make a,, living." The.cost of operating an association. in this country is comparatively higher'than in Europe. Community spirit of co-operation is not a strong trait, in the American farmer." Nevertheless, the professor considers that in spite of. these obstacles ,the cow test associations are bound to steadily increase, in numbers "because they are founded on basic principles for improving dairy, conditions."- The rate, of-increase,;. h"ow;ever, ."must necessarily, depend'.upori .the rapidity with'-' which/.'dairying."be- ' comes- a • specialty in different sections ;of the country!" '.. '■

.Fortunately 'for.' the associations in Now Zealand . the.: conditions here. are : more fuifable' than.-those;.;ih'.America:; •-• Most of. the dairy," farmers are dependent upon the profit.of their/herds for, a living: In tho'inatter of cow-feting the spirit of cooneraticn.is.fairly strong.. The dairying districts are ; populated 'nuito thickly enough With cows, and the "dairying'division of-, the" Department of .'"Agriculture acts jis an outside force to organise the associations and encourage the. members •to keep them alive. 'Brit America's--fail-, .nre should prompt. New Zealand farmers to keep, these matters' before them, and see that they.are acted unori lest Hie day of the associations' should .wane! .As far •as-fe-noivn. here. Maine is . the only American State which,, directly has authorised an appropriation for 'promoting, cow. test association's.' and last year an,"assistant dairy instructor vas employed who had"special charge of .the work., Several States, as.'lowa, Wisconsin, Michigan,' and .others'.' are. supporting the-, work- through appropriations Mr -im-'' proving, dairy, conditions in-general.. ,'..