ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 113 



to pasture do not usually result in a change in the per cent of fat 

 in the milk. Here we have cows going from a dry feed to a very 

 succulent ration, vet an examination of the records at our butter 

 factories shows that the per cent of fat tends to go up rather than 

 down, when the cows go to pasture. The question has arisen 

 as to how we are going to increase the richness of the milk of our 

 dairy cows, what system of breeding and care will result in fur- 

 nishing to our children cows that give richer milk than those that 

 we are handling. Naturally the sole possibility is to select the 

 cows that give the richest milk and keep their calves. Breed 

 them to bulls whose clams and grand-dams were noted for rich 

 milk. Scrupulously reject the descendents of such breeding 

 which do not give rich milk. Remember that in breeding two 

 and two do not make four, it sometimes makes three and some- 

 times six. Do not expect, therefore, that all of the calves will 

 be as rich in milk as their dams. On this point 1 must confess 

 to almost complete failure in following out my own advice. 

 Where such a cow as Dame LeBrocq, a cow which gave milk 8 

 or per cent fat, was bred regularly to a son of a cow which gave 

 very rich milk. I have to report that none of her calves approached 

 her dam in high per cent of fat. So our experiments at the 

 Michigan College do not show immediate results. On the other 

 hand immediate results are not to be expected. We must look 

 for evolution and not for revolution in this matter. I know of 

 no rule which insures a farmer the production of cows which 

 will give rich milk. Naturally he will not select Holsteins for 

 this purpose, but will take Jerseys or Guernseys. I have recom- 

 mended to the Holstein breeders this practice of selection and 

 breeding and I think the breed will gradually develop a better 

 quality of milk if this plan is pursued, but no one farmer can 

 expect to reap the benefit at once. 



In concluding this part of the subject it is well to remember 

 that the cow is an animal whose valuable characteristics are bred 

 into her and are not natural. A cow gives milk for the support 

 of her offspring, man has changed her nature until she gives 

 more milk and more butter fat than half a dozen calves actually 



