ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



I6 5 



I understand the object and purpose of your Association is to improve 

 And develop the dairy industry of this great State. When the magnitude 

 <of the industry is considered, it is apparent that the subject is one of the 

 utmost importance to the people of Illinois. It can be truly said that the 

 prosperity of the State rests largely with you gentlemen. There are now 

 in Illinois, for dairy purposes, approximately 750,000 cows, yielding an 

 .annual supply of nearly 350,000,000 gallons of milk, from which 100,000,- 

 000 pounds of butter are made. This great supply of butter and milk, 

 if equally divided among men, women and children of the State, would 

 give to each one annually about 58 Quarts of milk and 20 pounds of buf- 

 fer. These figures would indicate that the supply is not sufficient to 

 meet the demand of its citizens without importation. 



The farmer who follows dairy pursuits should have to begin with 

 a dairy of good cows and he should acquire the cows with the least pos- 

 jible outlay of money. If there is any particular breed of cows more 

 profitable than another, it should be known to him. At the lowest esti- 

 mate $900,000 is annually withdrawn from circulation and is expended in 

 the purchase of cows from other States. About 70 per cent of this stock is 

 bought on credit, and the farmers therefor pay annually a large amount 

 •of money in interest. The time was, in Illinois, when the farmers practi- 

 cally raised all of their own stock If that was done today, wo chould 

 not only have better dairies, but we would escape many dangerous diseases 

 which find their way through our State through the impoitation of 

 stock. Through our inspection, wo seek to bring about clean stables, 

 clean milk receptacles, the general condition made better. The introduc- 

 tion of modern scientific methods we believe will be the result of these 

 inspections, in many instances in which they are not now in use. 1 know 

 •of no better means of bringing about improved conditions than through 

 Inspection, and it is my opinion that not only is the public health pro- 

 tected thereby, but that the competent, up-to-date dairyman will be 

 greatly benefitted thereby. I know of no up-to-date dairies who receive 

 as much as 12 cents per quart for their milk from the consumer. I am 



