q ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



fluids are secreted by the intestines to complete the work of digestion and 

 assimilation is completed by the Uuueals. 



How much of the plants have been digested and taken up by the ani- 

 mal depends on two conditions, i. c, structure of the plant and capacity 

 of the animal's digestive glands to secrete the proper fluids. For these 

 glands while unseen by us, differ as much in their working power as 

 the animals do in size, color and form. The breeder and feeder have truly 

 developed the digestive glands, the blood circulation and the storing of 

 the surplus milk, lean meat and fat in the animal as they have their size 

 and place of storing it. 



Animals reared largely on carbohydrates and fat have those digestive 

 functions most developed, while these reared mostly on protein feeds have 

 better protein digestive power. So a balanced ration for meat and milk 

 production is first, maintenance, and the then amount of protein .carbo- 

 hydrates and fat it has capacity to digest and store up in milk, heat and 

 fuel (fat). A grown animal's productive capacity is rarely changed, 

 though their appetite is increased. They may eat a large amount of a 

 well-balanced ration, digest much of it that passes through the entire cir- 

 culation and be carried off as other waste matter, by the lungs, kidneys 

 and skin ,and yet there may be no extra milk or meat stored. While the 

 nigh bred animal eating the same feed would have digested all the pro- 

 tein, carbohydrates and fat, and stored it as meat and milk of the highest 

 quality. The one used feed at a loss to the owner, who condemns the bal- 

 anced ration theory, the latter making a good profit, and confirms bal- 

 anced rations. 



This statement is well proven at our State Experiment Station by 

 Prof. Prazier in Bulletin No. 66, with the cows Rose and Nora. Rose is 

 reported as a grade cow of unknown breeding, yet she is truly a high 

 bred dairy cow as if we had the tabulated pedigree tracing back 100 

 years. And the breeders of dairy cattle in Illinois, who have been striv- 

 ing to improve the dairy breeds of the state should have had the credit 

 due them for producing this extra cow. Many thoroughbred cows have 



