98 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



proving the herd. The bulls used have been the best that could be found, 

 from cows of noted dairy quality and long tests. The best heifer calves 

 fron. the best cows have been only kept to take the place of the old cows 

 or such as could not reach the herd standard. The milk is weighed at 

 each milking from each cow. 



Until 1899 the butter has been con puled by the addition of one-fifth 

 but the method has been changed to one-sixth to conform to the standard 

 adopted by the experiment station. The per cent of butter fat and total 

 sc-lids is the avarage tests made by the experiment station. 



Cows from this herd have won first and second prizes for the butter 

 fat prize offered by the Ayrshire Breeders Association and State Fair joint- 

 ly for the years 189G, 1897 and 1899. This herd is free from tuberculosis. 



In the summer this herd is driven about one and one-fourth mil3s 

 to pasture, with a small night pasture near the barn. They are milked in the 

 E'table and are fed from a half to two pounds of spring wheat bran at 

 ea« 1. milkihig. During the fall they have the run of the meadow. In winter 

 they are fed all the low meadow hay they will eat clean and from one to 

 four pounds of bran, the fresh cows having two pounds of mixed feed 

 in addition. This mixture is ground barley, cotton seed meal, Unseen oil 

 meal, Chicago gluten meal; equal parts of water. The grain is fed once a 

 day. The cows are turned out to drink at a tub of running water twice 

 each day, and on pleasant days they remain out an hour or two in the 

 middle of the day. 



.• In breeding and selecting cows for this herd careful attention has been 

 paid to the dairy ability of each cow., and unless a cow in her prime could 

 give 6,000 of milk or 300 of butter she was posted off regardless of other 

 good qualities, and a cow standing in the stable was not secure unless she 

 could give in her prime, under favorable conditions, 7,000 of milk or 350 of 

 butter in a year. 



This herd was made as uniform in size, color and style as possible, 

 that they may present a fine appearance either when standing in the 

 stable or moving along the road to pasture. 



The following is the general make up required: 



