ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 27 



record to them and know absolutely the daily record of the milk 

 they give and the butter fat. You don't need to test every day, 

 but every month, using a little judgment in that line, and you 

 will know almost to a certainty how much they produce. 



When you have found out how much every one in the herd 

 is giving, you have taken the first step to successful dairying. 

 Until you do that, unless you are a remarkable man, you won't 

 get much success. 



There are several things to think of, and these questions are 

 up to every dairyman in the State of Illinois and every other 

 state, just what you can do best on your farm. What kind of 

 feeds to grow that are best adapted to the production of milk. 

 Alfalfa, clover or which ever gives the greatest return per acre 

 on your own farm. If you can produce all the feeds, or part of 

 them, are questions that arise and you must think them out. You 

 can do wonders on every farm by proper adjusting the crops to 

 the feed of your herd without an addition of money in outlay. 

 Here in Southern Illinois you can grow alfalfa I know and you 

 can grow corn and you can have ensilage. With a silo you can 

 produce more and abundant feed than in any other way, and it 

 gives you a good succulent food, and succulent feed you must 

 have. 



When we come to study the dairy cow and all the questions 

 connected with her, we ought to think along natural lines. In 

 June, when we get the succulent grass, the cow gives the most 

 milk, the conditions are right for it. We ought to perpetuate 

 those conditions. During the cold winter weather they need that 

 succulent food. We grumble because we don't get any return 

 in the milk pail, and it is because we have not given the cow the 

 encouragement in winter that she had in summer. We ought to 

 supply those conditions that are obtainable so easily in summer 

 so the cow can do her best throughout the entire year. Study 

 that feature, and perpetuate June twelve months the year round. 

 When you have done that you will feed silage the entire year. 



