314 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



give each calf at least one pure-bred parent, so why not breed and 

 rear good calves that will later prove their right to exist ? Cows 

 bred and reared on a particular farm are often better than those 

 from elsewhere because they fit the enviroment. It is a significant 

 fact that dairy farmers have not yet begun to dig deep into the 

 possibilities of their business. They are simply scratching the 

 surface unaware of what lies in store for them beneath, if they 

 will put forth the effort. The world's record cow produced 

 857.15 pounds of butter fat in one year, equivalent to 1,000 

 pounds of butter. Compare this with the average of the herds re- 

 ported herein, namely, 226,63 pounds. To the dairyman these 

 are all significant things, and it would seem that even he who runs 

 might read. 



Summary. 



1. In the 18 herds reported, including 221 cows, the average 

 production was 5616.99 pounds milk, 226.63 pounds butter fat, 

 and an average test of 4.03 per cent. 



2. The best herd averaged 350.17 pounds; the poorest, 

 142.05 pounds butter fat per cow. 



3. The best ten cows averaged 388.75 pounds; the poorest 

 ten 109.42 pounds butter fat per cow. 



4. The butter fat produced by the best cow (on the basis 

 used) was worth $119.32, while that of the poorest was worth 

 only $19.58. 



5. At least one-third of the cows in the ordinary herds are 

 practically unprofitable. 



6. The herds in which grading has been practiced, produced 

 85.47 pounds butter fat per cow more than did those in which no 

 grading has been done. 



7. The scales and the Babcock test made it possible to re- 

 move five cows from a herd of ten and thereby increase the profit 

 $7.62 per head. 



8. This circular shows conditions as they exist on dairy 

 farms of the state, indicating that a few cows are kept at a good 

 profit, some at a small profit, and many at an actual loss. 



