ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 193 



she represents one of our standard dairy breeds, entitled to a place 

 in many sections of the country. 



The four breeds mentioned may be considered our standard 

 dairy breeds. They have been developed, not in a promiscuous 

 manner, but by careful methodical selection of cattle possessing' 

 features of form and characters highly adapted for milk produc- 

 tion and meeting the requirements of classes of people whose 

 environments and preferences are not the same. They are dis- 

 tinguished from one another by breed characteristics such as color 

 markings of a distinct nature, certain individualities, as regards 

 form and general adaptability, and the points of difference relat- 

 ing to milk production ,all of which are as important in the devel- 

 opment of breeds and as necessary to preserve as are the trade 

 marks which brand and characterize different grades of merchan- 

 dise. Every herd of cows has its trade mark and a good stockman 

 will interpret its value thereby nearly as accurately as we inter- 

 pret the value of a piece of coin bearing a specific mark. 



How about the goods we as dairymen are handling? Do our 

 herds bear a trade mark which indicate a distinct breed of cows 

 which tend to improve and build up the most profitable herd of 

 dairy cows? Too many of us know well enough that there are 

 comparatively few herds of dairy cattle, and other classes of stock 

 as well, that are being bred and managed in a manner which will 

 insure the lrgest number of profitable animals. The majority of 

 cattle found in the country today and which are being bred, are 

 common natives or scrubs. There are signs of improvement, we 

 are glad to note, but a man must be very optimistic in his views 

 who will say the improvement is all it should be. 



What are we going to about it ? One thing is certain. "W> 

 are not always going to be able to produce poor unprofitable cows 

 and maintain them in our herds when lands are rising in valida- 

 tion each year and our farming operations must necessarily be- 

 come more extensive in order to make ends meet. We shall soon 

 be compelled to wake up to the fact that we must have better cows 

 or else get out of the business. 



Is there any difference in cows ? There certainly is, and here 



