124 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



nutrients are usually produced more cheaply in roughage 

 than in grain. 



Condition of the Cows. 



All of the cows but one were in fine condition at the 

 close of the year on corn silage and alfalfa hay without 

 grain as may be seen from several of the pictures accom- 

 panying this article. One cow, the best milker of all, pro- 

 duced 10,430 pounds of milk containing 351 pounds of fat. 

 She was producing too heavily to keep in normal condition 

 without grain and so became somewhat emaciated and out 

 of condition. Notwithstanding big production on corn sil- 

 age and alfalfa alone, it is recommended that when cows 

 are producing more than 20 pounds of milk per day they 

 should be fed some grain. 



Milk Per Acre. 



It was the purpose of the dairy demonstration at the 

 University of Illinois to produce the most milk per acre and 

 raise all the feeds on the farm. Since digestible nutrients 

 can usually be produced more cheaply in roughage than in 

 grain, cows capable of handling large amounts of roughage 

 were the kind desired. Naturally this meant cows of large 

 digestive capacity. Grade Holsteins were chosen because 

 they answered this requirement, and were the kind of cows 

 generally kept in the intensive districts of the state in both 

 the vicinities of Chicago and St. Louis; besides, it would be 

 more practical and convincing to have the demonstration 

 compare as closely as possible with the common dairy prac- 

 tice of the dairy regions of the state. These cows were the 

 best that an experienced man from the dairy department 

 could select and purchase at a reasonable price. They were 

 no better than the best dairymen select, but they were bet- 

 ter than the average dairyman purchases on such a buying 

 trip, as proved by the sustained health, good production, 

 and vigorous condition of these cows throughout the long 

 period of the demonstration. 



In this article and Parts V and VII, eleven of these 



