^^^ Illinois State Dairymen s Association. 



1 



which only returned him three cents for every nickel's worth of 

 feed he expended on them. 



The members of this Association have at all times had the 

 benefit of the Cow Tester's advice, and as he is an expert dairy- 

 man, much good has been accomplished in the way of formulat- 

 ing" rations, purchasing of feed, etc. 



But the effects of the first year's work are much more far 

 reaching. While none of the members owned a Dairy Bull at 

 the beginning of the year, there are now after the Association has 

 existed two years, more than 14 high bred Dairy Bulls owned 

 by the members of the Association. Many of thd members have 

 purchased cows of dairy type, and even a Bull Association has 

 been formed. It will take a year or two more before the effects 

 of this better breeding will show itself in the herds, but I am 

 convinced that this Association has benefited its members already 

 to the extent of several thousand dollars, and this is not all, but 

 it has taught the members that there is more to dairying than 

 just hard work, and it has given them interest and enthusiasm 

 for their labors own work and enabled them to let their souls 

 enjoy good in their labors. And that is what makes life worth 

 living. I thank you for your kind attention. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman : — Now, gentlemen, I would like to have you 

 question our neighbor from across the pond. He is a man that 

 has been with the dairy cows himself. I was somewhat disap- 

 pointed when I heard that Mr. Lillie was not going to be here 

 to talk to us, but I am glad the man that does the work is here 

 himself, and I want you to get all the information you can from 

 him. 



Member: — What is the average number of cows in each 

 association ? 



Mr. Rabild : — We have to hire a man for each association. 

 If the members pay one dollar per cow per year and hire a man 

 for $300 a year, they have to have three hundred cows. If that 

 man wants $400 a year and his board and lodging, which, by 

 the way, he gets on different farms, they have to have 400 cows 

 or if they only have 200 cows they must pay $2 a cow. 



Member : — How many cows in the association to which you 

 referred ? 



