32 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



that they are going to give milk. They really don't get the 

 food value that is necessary out of that grass to make good 

 production. 



So watch your pastures and milk pail. Along in July, 

 when the flies come, there is no grass and everything is dry 

 and dusty, the cows are getting nothing to eat. Just re- 

 member she is a machine and if you see her coming down in 

 milk flow, begin feeding her a little more, even if it is only 

 green forage. 



A little summer silo is of just as much value as a big 

 winter silo. I have a friend over in Ohio who takes mighty 

 good care of his cows. I saw him some time ago and he 

 told me he was getting along fine. He said : "I have made 

 my cows give as much milk in the summer time as in the 

 winter. I have a summer silo and it has worked out won- 

 derfully." 



You do not need to watch your production if you will 

 just see that your cows get in good condition. 



Our ancestors had these great extensive prairies, with 

 not enough cattle to eat them down and sent them to pas- 

 ture in the winter time. They did not need much feed, be- 

 cause the grass was so high and it kept the flies off of them, 

 etc. But now we confine our cows to little pastures where 

 the grass is short and dry. They can't even eat the grass 

 along the roadside. Now we have our silos and feed them 

 in the winter. 



Just let me tell you one thing : when you join your cow 

 testing association, be sure you take hold of it properly, 

 analyze correctly the records which are made and watch 

 what the reason is from season to season and year to year 

 why your cows are not producing economically and correct 

 those little conditions as you go along. 



After all, if we are really milking cows for profits in- 

 stead of for recreation, we should watch these things and 

 give our cows the chance they ought to have. I think we 

 will find quite a large percentage of cows that will make a 

 profitable flow of milk and butter fat. 



Then, too, we have got our bull associations and I think 

 they are more valuable than the cow testing association. 



