152 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



be perfectly gentle. The reason for this is not always apparent, 

 but nevertheless the animal's likes and dislikes should be re- 

 spected. The milking should be done as quickly as is consistent 

 with absolute thoroughness and gentleness. 



Regularity is of utmost importance and should be strictly 

 adhered to in all matters pertaining to the dairy. 



Kindness, absolute kindness, is no doubt one of the largest 

 factors in successful dairying. From calfhood until the close 

 of her days of usefulness the dairy cow more than any other 

 animal, will appreciate and respond to kind treatment. If the 

 calf is handled properly when she comes into the dairy, there 

 will be no breaking process to be dreaded by the milker or 

 endured by the heifer, but she knows he is her friend and ninety- 

 nine times out of a hundred will in a very few days be as gentle 

 as an old cow. Without doubt thousands of heifers have been 

 sent to the block, as the result of improper handling, that would 

 have proven themselves valuable in the dairy had their owners 

 exercised a reasonable degree of common sense. One of the 

 greatest sources of discomfort to the dairy cow is the dog. We 

 will admit that the dog seems to be a necessity on the average 

 farm, and with some classes of stock perhaps he is not especially 

 objectionable; but we make the statement without fear of suc- 

 cessful contradiction that the net profits of the dairymen of Illi- 

 nois are reduced thousands of dollars annually, by dogs. 



While it may not be of such imperative necessity to provide 

 warm barns for the dairy cows in Illinois as in Minnesota, still I 

 am inclined to believe that the protection should be nearly as 

 great. The cow can not do her best if she is exposed to dis- 

 comfort from any cause, and if confined in a barn that is not 

 sufficiently warm her product will be less than it otherwise 

 would. It is unreasonable to expect a cow to do even fair work 

 if confined without opportunity for exercise, even, in a place 

 where the owner in order to be comfortable wears overcoat and 

 mittens while caring for her. But without doubt this condition 

 exists on thousands of farms in your state, and until it is changed 



