174 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and he has done that by applying common-sense in their 

 development. I wish every one of you could see that herd 

 of young stock. I don't mean to say we all could have 

 just the breed he has, — that breed is suited to his particu- 

 lar condition ; but I do believe that we can make a herd 

 develop suited to our conditions, and I think the hit-or- 

 miss plan which so many farmers in Massachusetts are fol- 

 lowing at the present time is a great mistake. I think we 

 should take pride enough to endeavor to build up (jur herds 

 and improve them. I do hope that the members of this 

 Board will take sufficient interest to go home and preach 

 improvement in dairy herds among the people with whom 

 they come in contact. 



Mr. Van Norman. I would like to supplement somewhat 

 that which Mr. Ellis has said, and to answer a little more 

 fully Professor Cooley's question, as to how the farmers of 

 Massachusetts can improve their herds. 



What Mr. Ellis has said is based upon accurate records, 

 kept as he wants them kept, and in such a way as to give 

 him the knowledge on which to conduct his business. If 

 there is any one thing that I am sure he would wish to em- 

 phasize in reference to this, it is that you should have accu- 

 rate knowledge of each individual cow, know what she is 

 doing, and have the sand to cut out those who are not doing 

 the business. 



I w^ould say, then, the first thing in improving your herd 

 is to know your herd, and know what each one is doing. 

 And I would say that we have no rules, only maxims. We 

 endeavor to see that there shall be an intelligent observation 

 of every individual, and that that individual shall be treated 

 as her conditions require. For that reason I did not wish 

 to answer the question definitel}^ as to how nmch feed we 

 give our heifers. It does not make much difference, as Mr. 

 Ellis says, if they get there in their work. We trj^ to de- 

 velop a heifer so that she will give a maximum amount of 

 milk, 0,000 or 7,000 pounds, by careful observation of her 

 condition and constitution, giving her grain up to the limit 

 where the result is best, but we won't exceed 12 pounds per 

 cow per da}'. What difference does it make what you feed 



