300 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



A good ration, beside containing the proper amount of 

 protein, carbohydrates and fat, must be palatable and must be 

 easily digestible. I find that a ration consisting of a variety of 

 concentrates gives better results than one consisting of only one 

 feed. 



I am feeding this winter, one pound of oil meal to all of 

 my cows excepting two, which receive about 1 1-3 pounds daily. 

 To the cows producing from seven to eight pounds of fat per 

 week I feed in addition to the oil meal, nine pounds of a mixture 

 of equal parts bran, Buffalo gluten feed, corn and cob meal and 

 ground barley. To cows producing 10 pounds of fat per week I 

 feed about 12 pounds of the mixture and 1 1-3 pounds of oil 

 meal. To cows producing less than seven pounds of fat per 

 week I feed less grain. Cows when dry, receive no grain ration. 



For roughage, I am feeding 30 to 35 pounds silage, eight 

 pounds mixed hay and about five pounds corn stover. 



In order to be successful dairymen, we must study the in- 

 dividual needs of each cow. Some cows are much more 

 economical producers than others. I weigh the milk from the 

 whole herd daily. Whenever the flow begins to drop off, I begin 

 to look for the cause. 



In order to make the most profit out of our herds the flow 

 of milk must be constantly kept up. If cows once drop down 

 for any length of time, they will not come up again to where 

 they were during that lactation period. The good dairyman, 

 like the good engineer, must constantly keep his hand upon the 

 throttle. 



Value of a Good Sire. 



Cow No. 21 is a daughter of cow No. 14, whose average 

 production for four years was 7,614 pounds of milk and 246 

 pounds of fat. The sire of cow No. 21 was a full blood Holstein. 

 This cow produced during her first lactation period 7,554 pounds 

 of milk and 254 pounds of fat. Last year she produced 7,570 

 pounds milk and 272 pounds of fat. She dropped her third calf 

 on Sept. 4, 1908, and produced during the first five months of 

 this lactation period an average of 9.17 pounds fat per week. 

 A gain of 28J^ per cent over the corresponding period last year. 



