THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION. 135 



I feed less grain. Cows when dry receive no grain ration. For 

 roughage, I am feeding 30 to 33 pounds silage, 8 pounds mixed 

 hay and about 5 pounds corn stover. 



In order to be successful dairymen, we must study the in- 

 dividual needs of each cow. Some cows are much more econo- 

 mical producers than others. I weigh the milk from the whole 

 herd daily. Whenever the flow begins to drop off, I begin to 

 look for the cause. In order to make the most profit out of our 

 herds the flow of milk must be constantly kept up. If cows once 

 drop down for any length of time, they will not come up again 

 to where they were during that lactation period. A good dairy- 

 man, like a good engineer, must constantly keep his hand upon 

 the throttle. 



Now, one of the most important things is to have a good 

 sire. Cow No. 21 is a daughter of cow No. 14, whose average 

 production for four years was 7,614 pounds of milk and 246 

 pounds of fat. The sire of cow No. 21 was a full blood Hol- 

 stein. This cow produced during her first lactation period 7,554 

 pounds of milk and 272 pounds of fat. She dropped her third 

 calf on September 4, 1908, and produced during the first five 

 months of this lactation period an average of 9.17 pounds of fat 

 per week. A gain of 28^ per cent over the corresponding 

 period last year. If she continues to do as well for the balance 

 of the year she will produce 350 pounds of fat this year. An in" 

 crease of 104 pounds of fat per year over the four years' aver- 

 age of her dam. 



Cow No. 17 was sired by the same bull as cow No. 21. This 

 cow produced last year, her third lactation period, 8,929 pounds 

 of milk and 303 pounds of fat during twelve months. During 

 her second lactation period she produced 8,887 pounds of milk 

 and 345 pounds of fat in twelve months. Her last year's record 

 exceeded her dam's record for one year by 2,959 pounds of milk 

 and 89 pounds of fat. She produced an average of 348.4 pounds 

 of milk and 13.24 pounds of fat per week on pasture alone last 

 June. 



