ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. I43 



decided to present for your consideration a few facts about the 

 Holstein-Fresian breed, but in doing so I will endeavor to treat 

 fairly and justly all those other valuable dairy breeds which 

 have contributed so largely to the success, wealth and import- 

 ance of the dairy business in America. 



The Jerseys, Guernseys and Ayrshires, are all valuable for 

 the dairy, and not without reason; the Shorthorns and Devons 

 have their friends among dairymen. Any one of these breeds 

 is a vast improvement over the native, but the important ques- 

 tion now is, when only superior cows will pay a profit, 

 which breed will show the best balance at the end of the year 

 and under the greatest variety of conditions and circumstances? 



The t Holstein-Fresians, as all the members of your associ- 

 ation are doubtless aware, have been imported to this country 

 from Holland, where, under the most favorable conditions for 

 the development of all the qualities which are essential in good 

 dairy cows, they have been improved and developed for many 

 centuries. 



Holland is pre-eminently the dairy country of the world, 

 producing annually a much larger yield of dairy products, of 

 greater value, in proportion to her area, than any other. Both 

 cheese and butter dairying are extensively carried on there and 

 hence quantity and quality of milk are both essential and the 

 breeders there have aimed to accomplish such a union — with 

 what result some of the statements which follow will show. 



Beef and veal are also important factors in the cattle industry 

 of that country, a large and fine cow being worth almost as 

 much for beef as for milk, and hence the development of the beef 

 qualities have not been overlooked by these shrewd, close-calcu- 

 lating and far-sighted people. 



Holland probably has the finest pastures of any country 

 known, which tend to encourage rapid growth, early maturity, 

 early breeding and an unusual development of all the milk 

 organs. These characteristics, produced from whatever cause, 

 when continued for many generations, become so fixed, so 



