PREFACE 



THIS book presents in printed form material that has 

 been gathered by the author during the past ten years 

 for presentation to students in the form of lectures. The 

 author has had charge of a herd of from thirty to fifty 

 cows for fifteen years. Among these have been many 

 high-producing animals and all the leading dairy breeds. 



It has been the aim of the author to bring together the 

 essential information regarding the dairy cow in a com- 

 pact and usable form. An immense amount of knowl- 

 edge exists on this subject. It is found scattered through 

 the publications of State Experiment Stations and of the 

 Federal Government, in the Agricultural Press, and in 

 the possession of practical herdsmen. An attempt has 

 been made to bring this information together with the 

 object of acquainting the student who expects to be a 

 farmer with the principles he must understand and prac- 

 tice in order to be successful with dairy cattle. It is 

 hoped it will be serviceable as well to the practical farmer 

 interested in dairy cattle, who will find the material pre- 

 sented in such a way that it will assist him to care prop- 

 erly for his animals and to produce milk economically. 



The author desires to express his appreciation of the 

 assistance of his former student, Professor O. E. Reed, 

 of the Kansas Agricultural College, who has supplied 

 part of the photographs and assisted in preparing portions 



of the material. 



C. H. ECKLES. 

 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, 

 February, 1911. 



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