80—UncMttr Farming. S»turd«y. Juna 14, 1975 DHIA System Was Depending on your ethnic background, you can argua whether Leif Ericsson and his fallow Vikings or Columbus and his sslllng craws wora the real dlscovarars of America. You can even discuss the merits of Danish modem furniture, Royal Copenhagen china and Red Danish bulls. But you may not be aware that a Danish immigrant named Helmer Rabild has left a heritage which con* tinues to provide direct benefits to U.S. dairy far* men and indirect benefits to consumers of dairy products. Rabild was instrumental in organizing the first cow testing association in this country, the forerunner of today's modem, nationwide computerized Dairy Herd Improvement Association record-keeping system. The organizational meeting of that first association was held on Sept. 26,1905, in the Grange hall at Fremont, Mich. (Newaygo county), an area famous for furniture-making and fruit growing. Patterned after similar organizations which had begun 10 years earlier in Denmark, the local Michigan association commenced operations in January 1906. News of this new development spread rapidly in agricultural circles, and the states of Maine and New York organized similar associations in 1908. The following year, Rabild was called to Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to head up a nationwide cow-testing program under the auspices of what was then the USDA’s dairy division. He undoubtedly had a hand in establishing the Maryland prog* am, which began operation in 1911. Cow testing programs were originally supervised by agencies of the USDA in cooperation with colleges of agriculture and experiment stations at land-grant colleges. They were taken under the wing of the Cooperative Extension Service when it was organized in 1911. In 1927 the cow testing associations were redesignated as Dairy Herd Improvement Associations, and the on-the-farm technicians have had their titles changed from cow testers to supervisors. Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 1952, the associations became quasi-independent. They hire their own supervisors, but continue to receive technical assistance from the Cooperative Ex tension Service at each land grant college. This quasi-independent status led to the formation of a county,, state and national organizational structure for DHIA members. The Maryland Dairy Herd Im provement Association, Inc., was founded in 1965. Its aim is to give farmers direct representation at the national policy-making level in dairy record-keeping programs. Computerization of DHIA record-keeping systems began in 1951 at Utah State University. Today the Utah State operation has evolved into a private agency headquartered at Provo, Utah. It processes the DHIA records for dairy fanners in all or part of 12 states, in cluding Maryland. There are currently 10 other regional record processing centers providing computerized services. Five of them are operated by state universities such as Penn State. The University of Maryland operated its own center from 1965 to 1969. Maryland dairy farmers in the DHIA program now receive computer printouts each month from the Utah processing center. These print-outs provide an array of information on individual cows about which Helmer Rabild and the orginal cow testing association members could never have dreamed. Modern dairy record keeping has developed to a level of refinement that few dairymen can match by themselves, unless they are mathematical wizards, have the use of their own elec tronic computer, and devote moat of their time to this sort of work. Direct benefits of the DHIA program to dairy farmers have included a tremendous increase in milk production per cow over the years and an awareness of the practical aspects of P. L ROHRER & BRO., INC. Smoketown, Pa f Begun In Denmark genetics In breeding programs to Improve over* sll herd production. This awareness has resulted in the associated national sire evaluation program, which officially began in 1935. The total DHIA program has benefited all dairymen, whether or not they have ever actively participated, declares Dr. Charles M. Chance, Extension DHIA and dairy management specialist at the University of Maryland in College Park. And it has aided con sumers by providing a plentiful supply of wholesome milk and milk products at reasonable 717-299-2571 DAIRY BARN POLE STRUCTURES - A*-,*,*.*,-*-*,-*.*J» Art,* - --•■•■- - - - - - prices. Li , In addition to his normal responsibilities. Dr. Chance and the entire membership of the Marylsnd Dairy Herd Improvement Corporation are currently Involved In planning for the twelfth annual meeting of the National DHIA. It is scheduled March 28-31, 1976, at the Hilton hotel in Baltimore. Participating host states include Maryland, Delaware Compact design for easy transport and working in tight areas. Fingertip backhoe control to dig depth of 7'5" Integral loader/tractor design for balance, power and high-production loading Stop in today and see our 14 and 16 5 hp models. A. L. • FARM • URBAN • COMMERCIAL Thrive Center ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDINGS • Gestation • Farrowing • Nursery/Finishing JttISKEIJItf For Information Write or Phone ® 626-5204 and Weat Virginia. Since the first two atates were in cluded in the Thirteen Original Colonies, it appeara appropriate that they should help host the convention during the Bicentennial Year. The convention, in cidentally, will mark 70 years of cow testing activity in the U.S. and 65 years since the forerunner of the DHIA program began operating in Maryland. • Landscapers • Contractors —♦Farmers • Nurseries • Public Works • Plumbers 0 V * Utilities -And more' HERR & BRO. Quarryville, PA 17566 Phone 786-3521 •ntfliVE centers" Case Compact Loader/Backhoe for:
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers