712 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



men of opposite views get up and give reasons for their views. In this 

 lies the life and instruction of the meeting. It seems to me that this 

 paper should not pass without a discussion. 



President Johnson: If there is no discussion on this subject we will 

 pass on to the next "Lessons from the Herd Test at St. Louis," by Harry 

 Jenkins, of Indianapolis. 



I have just received word from Mr. Jenkins that his father is sick, 

 and that the rush of work will compel him to be absent from these meet- 

 ings, but Mr. Yiin Pelt is here and at my request will make a few off- 

 hand remarks. Mr. Van Pelt fed the Jersey herd at the St. Louis test. 



LESSONS FROM THE HERD TEST AT ST. LOUIS. 



BY HUGH G, VAN PELT. 



(Edited by Secretary.) 



Mr. Yan Pelt culled attention to the fact that many valuable lessons 

 can be gotten from the work at St. Louis, that in seeking these lessons it 

 must be borne in mind that the conditions under Avhich the cows were of 

 necessity kept, was rndically different from ordinnry farm conditions and 

 that due allowance must be made for these conditions. At the same time 

 certain vital principles \vere manifest and are not influenced by the sur- 

 roundings. 



The average annual production of butter fat of the Indiana cow is 

 about 150 pounds in 3(.»5 days. The poorest cow in the St. Louis test gave 

 nearly that much in 120 days. The poorest Jersey exceeded it by 70 

 pounds in 120 days, while the best Jersey produced 30 pounds more than 

 double that amount in 120 days. Selection of the animal, its ancestry, 

 care and feed given it and its manner of handling are responsible for this 

 much larger and morei. economical production. 



One of the first lessons to be learned is that the unprofitable cows in 

 the average herd should be gotten rid of and in their places should be kept 

 only those having larger ability to convert the feed eaten into profitable 

 returns. 



The cows selected for the Jersey test were gotten together some time 

 previous to the opening of the test in order that they might freshen under 

 the conditions In which they would have to work. In order that the feeders 

 and milkers might become acquainted with the Individual characteristics 

 of the several cows. In this test much attention was given to the pecu- 

 liarities and Individual characteristics of each cow. In this preliminary 

 period special attention was given to getting the cows dry In order that 



