ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 311 



in this State is approximately Impounds. It is apparent then, 

 that there are numerous inferior animals which should be re- 

 moved. According to the last report (1905) of the Secretary 

 of Agriculture, there are in Illinois 995,429 dairy cows. It is 

 doubtful if one-fourth of this number, namely, 248,857, are very 

 much improved, but for lack of definite knowledge upon this 

 point, we will assume that such is the case. Granting this, there 

 remains then 746,572 cows of such low average production that 

 an increase of 82.52 pounds of butter fat per cow, can be readily 

 brought about by rational breeding, selection and feeding. Such 

 an increase amounts to $21.14 per cow or for three-fourths of 

 the dairy cows in Illinois, an increased return per year to the 

 dairy farmers alone, of $15,784,398.51. With a herd of fifteen 

 cows, this would amount to $317.10 annually, minus a slight in- 

 crease in the cost of food incident to the greater production. 

 Such a modest improvement can be easily realized, for it re- 

 quires a raise in the average production of only 84.57 pounds 

 which is from our present low average to the average of the herds 

 reported in this Circular. To go a step farther, it is not at all 

 without the range of possibility to raise the average production 

 to that of the ten best cows, and thus secure an immensely 

 larger sum from the dairy herds of the State. The former we 

 must have; the latter is at least possible. 



In order to substantiate what has been said concerning the 

 possibility of raising the amount of butter fat 84.57 pounds, at- 

 tention is called to Table 28. Under the heading "no grading" 

 are grouped the herds in which there has been no attempt to 

 strengthen the breeding along dairy lines by either the purchase 

 of dairy bred cows or the use of purebred dairy sires. Under the 

 heading "grading" are placed the herds in which some concerted 

 effort has been made to incorporate better dairy blood. In each 

 case, the average butter fat yield is given. Where "no grading" 

 has been done, the average production per cow is 177.62 pounds, 

 while in those herds where "grading" has been practiced, the 

 average production is 263.09 pounds. Here then we have a dif- 

 ference of 85.47 pounds in favor of the practice of "grading up." 



