Abstract
This article explores the outlines of an ‘agrarian-industrial knowledge
society’ that developed from about 1895. Farmers, breeders, experts and leaders
of dairy companies worked in close cooperation to increase the fat percentages in
milk. The challenge was to measure these percentages on the farm, and process
the information in a systematic way. Feedback mechanisms resulted in the selection of productive cows, because the fat content of milk is highly inheritable through the male as well as the female line. Data gathered from dairy companies and herd books in the Netherlands has uncovered considerable geographical differences in this process of knowledge-based growth. Focusing on Friesland, a Dutch province with a rich tradition of dairy farming, the importance of institutions is illustrated. A dairy counsellor, societies for milk measurement and cattle examination as well as price systems introduced by dairy companies advanced the biological quality of cows.
society’ that developed from about 1895. Farmers, breeders, experts and leaders
of dairy companies worked in close cooperation to increase the fat percentages in
milk. The challenge was to measure these percentages on the farm, and process
the information in a systematic way. Feedback mechanisms resulted in the selection of productive cows, because the fat content of milk is highly inheritable through the male as well as the female line. Data gathered from dairy companies and herd books in the Netherlands has uncovered considerable geographical differences in this process of knowledge-based growth. Focusing on Friesland, a Dutch province with a rich tradition of dairy farming, the importance of institutions is illustrated. A dairy counsellor, societies for milk measurement and cattle examination as well as price systems introduced by dairy companies advanced the biological quality of cows.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 217-235 |
| Journal | Rural History: Economy, Society, Culture |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |