ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 27 



The course I have tried to outHne here is as near as possible 

 a course learned from actual experience. We have been breed- 

 ing, testing and keeping records of our cows for the past fifteen 

 years and the breeding question in dairy qualities of our herd 

 has been general and very decided. We select our breeding 

 bulls from stock that we almost know will transmit the qualities 

 we desire to propagate, but, as I said before, disappointments to 

 a breeder are a common occurence and that point is one of the 

 chief factors in intensifying the interest in the game. 



In looking over the records of our herd for the past ten 

 years, I find the following interesting state of affairs that will 

 verify my statements regarding close attention to breeding the 

 dairy calf. 



During the year 1896, our record shows sixteen of our best 

 cows (about all imported Brown Swiss) from January 1st to 

 December 31st, made an average of 329 pounds of butter at 85 

 per cent butter fat. 



During the year 1898, sixteen of our cows, consisting 

 mostly of the same cows and their daughters, made an average 

 of 363 pounds, a gain of 34 pounds per cow. 



For the year 1906, we have been milking a great many 

 of the heifers and descendants of these cows raised in the manner 

 I have here tried to outline, and sixteen of these cows, from 

 January 1st to December 31st, have made an average of 41:7 

 pounds of butter, or an average gain in our herd, taking 16 best 

 cows, of 118 pounds of butter per year. Eight of these cows are 

 being officially tested by the Illinois Agricultural College. Dur- 

 ing this period thirteen of them have had calves and have been 

 dry for a period of from one to two months. 



Such facts can only be obtained by following up the plan of 

 weighing, testing and keeping a record of what your cattle are 

 doing, and proves that by breeding only first-class sires to your 

 best cows, and raising the offspring, the reward will surely more 

 than compensate you for your expense and trouble, and you will 

 soon have a herd of cattle that you will feel proud to show your 



