BSCBA - USA 1900-1909
"The 20th Century"
Roger's Note: On January 1, 1900, everyone was celebrating a new century and speculating on what wonderment would this 20th century bring. Just a few years ago, we again turned the century page to the 21st and again speculate what wonderment will this new century bring.
Listed below are a few of the facts of where we were 100 years ago.
Registrations - Through 1899, a total of 2985 Brown Swiss animals had been registered with the Association. By 1910, an additional 5034 were in the record book. During the 1950’s, registrations reached their peak with over 20,000 registered each year in the 50’s, with a high of 25,667 in 1959. Currently, approximately 10,000 animals are registered per year.
National Show Champions - This is one of the oldest of the Brown Swiss breed programs, with the first records of National Show Champions in 1907. Folie 1552 was named the first female champion in 1907. Folie was owned by F.R. Hazard, Syracuse, New York, and bred by William Koch, Whitehall, New York. The following year, 1908, Cuma 2198 bred and owned by H.W. Ayers, Honey Creek, Wisconsin, was named champion. Compare Cuma (photo below) to the Supreme Champions Brown Swiss have had at World Dairy Expo in recent years to see the tremendous progress in conformation.
Other interesting facts non-related to Brown Swiss from 100 years ago:
- Only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub.
- Only 9 percent of homes had a telephone.
- The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.
- The average life expectancy in the United States was 47 years.
- The average wage in the United States was 22 cents per hour.
- Sugar costs 4 cents a pound. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen.