14 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21, 10 A. M. 



R. E. Caldwell. 



Yesterday those of you who attended the work at the 

 farm were, I believe, very much interested in the discussion 

 of judging. 



My remarks yesterday were concerned with the subject 

 of breeding. I stated that throughout Southern Illinois 

 there is one point that stands out above all others and that 

 is, there has not been the proper attention given to the se- 

 lection of animals designed for the purpose of producing 

 milk. 



There are four or five main breeds of dairy cattle, the 

 Jersey, Guernsey, Holstein, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss. 

 These breeds are the result of years and years of develop- 

 ment. We have breeds that will test high in fat, low in fat 

 and breeds of other peculiarities that make them fit well 

 into your local conditions. So do not worry so much about 

 the breed. Select the breed that best fits into the type of 

 dairy business which you expect to carry on. 



I would say in general that if you are in the whole 

 milk business, make use of breeds of cattle that are classed 

 as whole milk breeds, such as the Holstein or Ayrshire. If 

 you are in the business to produce for a creamery or special 

 market milk, a milk that is sold to the type of market that 

 will appreciate quality and pay for it in proportion, then 

 you can use the higher fat testing breeds. 



Another feature involved is climatic conditions. In 

 this country you have relatively mild climate, an almost 

 ideal Jersey climate. The Guernsey does well here and the 

 Holstein, I understand, also does well. The mere selection 

 of one of the breeds mentioned, however, it no criterion 

 that they are profitable cattle. In other words, you can get 

 pure-bred animals of these various breeds that are unprofit- 

 able. It rests with you individually to select the breed that 

 you desire, one that you personally appreciate and enjoy 

 and ca"n w^^j^i^ -..Triiiia iac*ppiiy- and. pruiliaDly. 



