24 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



On every topic in this table the three months October, 

 November and December won the first three ranks, though 

 not always in the same order. This indicates that, on the 

 average, it generally pays to have cows freshen in the fall 

 and early winter. Though they eat more grain, the greater 

 production generally gives them an advantage all along the 

 line. 



Conclusions. 



The study that has been made of the records from 64 

 cow-testing associations shows that fall or early winter 

 freshening is desirable in most parts of the country. The 

 influence of season of freshening is important, but the dairy- 

 man who has a steady market for milk at fair prices during 

 all seasons of the year will usually find it to his advantage 

 to keep the supply of dairy products fairly uniform from 

 month to month. 



Often the results due to date of freshening are differ- 

 ent in different associations, even in the same agriculaural 

 district. For that reason no set rule can be given as to what 

 percentage of the cows should freshen each month in the 

 year. That will vary to some extent in different localities 

 and on different farms in the same locality. At the present 

 time in market-milk districts there is generally a surplus of 

 milk in the late spring and early summer. For that reason, 

 if for no other, the dairy business should be so managed as 

 to have more cows freshen in the fall. Such a practice 

 would add to the profits of the producer, give the consumer 

 a more constant supply of dairy products, and bring about 

 a better distribution of farm labor throughout the year. 



Summary. 



1. The tabulation includes the yearly records of 10,- 

 870 cows in 64 cow-testing associations. 



Z. On an average the cows that freshened in the fall 

 produced 6,689 pounds of milk, while those that freshened 

 in the winter, summer, and spring produced 6,439, 5,941, 

 and 5,842 pounds, respectively. 



