52 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
breed A cow that will not give from 20 to 25 liters per day (a liter is about equal to a beer 
quart) for a long time , is considered quite ordinary; those giving 25 to 30 liters are quite com¬ 
mon and many giving from 30 to 40 liters per day; and this, let it be remembered is on grass 
So"; nut, as I have saw before, it is not the daily yield for the first few weeks that makes 
the Holstein cow so valuable; it is her yearly amount, Very careful experiments hav e been 
made, both as to the amount of feed consumed, and yearly average of dames ~m*>sed of 
Holsteins and other breeds. In the dairy of the Agricultural College i Prussia, 
composed of Holsteins and Ayrshires, the Holsteins gave an average of 4,437 q^rts peryear, 
and the Ayrshires 2,247 quarts. They also proved the fallacy of the theory that stock con- 
sumo feed in proportion to their size. By carefnl experiments, they found that, to keep 
the Ayrshires in their normal condition, they required one-fiftieth of their weight in foo< , 
while the Holsteins required only one-sixtieth of their weight. Cattle of: the same^breeds 
but of different weights, were experimented with, with a similar result. At the agricultural 
station at Pommeritz, Holsteins and Short-horns were tested, the experiment lasting 365 
days. The Short-horns averaged 6,801 pounds, and the Holsteins 8,034 pounds, ^th bree s 
having precisely the same care and keeping. The Holsteins showed a yield of 18 per cent, 
in excess of the Short-horns. One dairy of 190 Holsteins reported an average of L076 quarts 
per year. Thus far the Holstein in this country has not gone back on her home reco . 
G S. Miller, Madison county, N. Y., gives a report of his three imported ^. A carefcd 
record was kept for three years , and showed that one cow milked 98, days, one>916,.and 
937 days, and yielded an average of 31 6-100 pounds, 34 32.100 pounds, and 25 4-100 Pounds per 
day, respectively. Average yield per cow, 9,597 pounds per year. Then- feed ^ 8 
time, was six quarts of grain per day in spring; four quarts per day during tall and 
ter; June, July, and August, nothing but pasture. , , , of Ws 
Col H. C. Hoffman, Chemung county, N. Y., a practical dairyman, selected six of his 
bestgraded native cows, and placed them with his herd of imported 
precisely the same feed and treatment for two years, keeping an exact record of each cow s 
milk. The grades and natives yielded from 7,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds per year and the 
Holsteins from 10,000 pounds to 11,000 pounds, from 25 to 30 per cent, in favor ot the 
^Thave many other statements before me equally favorable, but many of them being of 
indivilal cow^ are of little value, compared with such as I have given for it is the— 
and comparative value we are after; and knowing these gentlemen to be peifectlj cand , 
practical and reliable, I have entire confidence in their report. 
Of seventeen of my own selection and importation in 1874, all but two proved to be all I 
anticipated, and some of them far exceeded my expectations; ot eight imported m 18,5, 
all proved good, and five superior , milkers. Nearly all of them having passed out oi my 
hands, I am unable to give an accurate report. 
The size of the Holstein compares favorably with other large breeds, mature cows, in 
good, fair flesh, weighing from 1,4.50 to 1,700 lbs.; bulls, at three or four years, weighing 
from 2,000 to 2,.500 lbs. I saw a great many fat cows In Holland that would weigh fr 
1 800 to 2 000 lbs. Holstein steers have proved very rapid growers and profitable lee ie • 
I should be glad to furnish some testimony on this latter point from some of our I mois 
farmers, were it not for encroaching on your space, but will gladly answer any questions or 
give any information I may be able to those addressing me. 
Respectfully, yours, 
GEO. E. BROY T N. 
