196 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



of animals, at least maintaining so far as possible all the good 

 results which have been achieved in animals of a high standard. 

 In successful practice it become an art. It is a sacred term and 

 should only be applied to such operations, back of which there is 

 a motive to obtain a higher standard of excellence. To rank as a 

 breeder we must fix in mind high ideals. If we are to breed dairy 

 cows we should have in mind such a cow as Yeksa Sunbeam, per- 

 haps, which will produce a thousand pounds of butter in a year, 

 or perhaps such a cow os old Pietertyre Second, which produced 

 30.318 pounds of milk in a year. Having fixed our ideal in 

 mind we must proceed to bring it to a reality by selecting as far 

 as possible animals which conform to our ideals. Pure blood, 

 without exception in the sire and as much of it as we can gee in 

 the cows, should be used. Mating animals so as to correct de- 

 fects and culling out those which are altogether unprofitable, 

 should be practiced rigorously. Due regard should be given the 

 matter of properly caring for animals, providing the proper feed, 

 shelter and other means for normal growth and development. 



With all of these fundamental principles there 

 is nothing more important than the matter of persis- 

 tent or "stick-to-itiveness." There are many disappointments 

 and many obsctacles which can be overcome only by the most per- 

 sistent effort. The son should take up the work of the father and 

 the work carried on in this manner for generation after genera- 

 tion, if the best results are to be secured. With the interest that 

 stock raising creates in the home affairs, where the operations are 

 based upon producing something of an improved and distinct 

 type, there is not the difficulty in forming a partnership firm of 

 father and son, there is where father is merely producing cows, 

 which have to be milked twice daily, regardless of even the prof- 

 its, which is the case in so many instances. 



Where are we at? It is hoped that we are still in our right 

 minds and possessed with a high ideal as regards the dairy cow. 

 Let us remember that low aim is crime, and to hit the the mark 

 at long distance range we must shoot high. What have we got 

 to start with? Some of us may feel discouraged as we think of 



