314 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



this station we wintered a grade herd of Guernsey heifers in ex- 

 cellent shape on alfalfa and sorghum without any grain. (See 

 figs. 13 and 14.) 



It is desirable to develop as much hardiness in dairy cattle 

 as possible, and for this reason it is not best to house young dairy 

 stock or even dry cows too warmly. Under Kansas conditions, 

 a reasonably tight shed open to the south, with the floor well 

 bedded, furnishes ample protection. 



As there is considerable loss every year over the state from 

 black-leg, it would be well to have the older calves inoculated 

 to prevent this disease. At present this station is furnishing 

 inoculating material at cost. A man is running considerable risk 

 in allowing his heifers to go uninoculated. 



The breeding of dairy stock hardly gets within the scope of 

 this bulletin, but as there are some breeders that are in the habit 

 of breeding too young, even while the animals may still be called 

 calves, a word of caution may not be out of place. Under Kan- 

 sas conditions, with our liberal supply of cheap and nitrogenous 

 feeds, it should be the aim to develop good size in our dairy 

 cows ; for, other things being' equal, the larger the cow the more 

 feed she can handle and turn into milk and butter-fat. It is 

 never desirable to breed a heifer to calve before she is two years 

 old, and she had better be over this age rather than under. If 

 the heifer is a spring calf, it would be better to breed her to calve 

 the fall following her second birthday, as fall calves are usually 

 more profitable, both from the standpoint of the cow and the calf. 

 Much depends upon getting the dairy heifers in the habit of 

 calving at the time of year when they will bring the most profit. 



Summary. The results detailed in this bulletin ought to 

 be a conclusive argument as to the great feeding value of skim- 

 milk; they also indicate the possibility and even the advisability 

 of growing the feeds that are needed upon the farm, thus saving 

 the money that would otherwise be invested in high-priced feed 

 stuffs. They indicate how it is possible to realize more income 



