ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION, 
55 
EVENING SESSION. 
Wednesday, Dec. ii, 1879. 
Upon the reassembling of the convention— 
Topic No. 8—“ Is it profitable to grind feed for the 
dairy? if so, can it be profitably done on the farm ?” 
This was considered a very practical question, and one 
which was of great interest to all dairymen. Their atten¬ 
tion was more particularly called to it last winter, during 
the mud embargo of the roads. 
E. H. Seward said it was an important question; but 
just now, as grain is so cheap, it was a question as to profit, 
between grinding and feeding whole. Grinding at home 
costs a great deal. The iron mills only cut, they do not 
grind. If there was some sure, cheap way, it might pay to 
grind on the farm, but at the price of grain now it would 
scarcely pay. If a few neighbors could unite in one mill_ 
and that a good one—he thought it might pay. Thought 
to steam feed was better and much cheaper and made 
better milk. Two bushels of rye would make five after it 
was steamed, and would feed 45 cows one day. After 
steaming it should be mixed with bran and fed warm. It 
took longer to cook corn than rye. One bushel of rye is 
equal to three bushels of oats for milk. His plan was an 
upright steamer; water flowed from an elevated tank; the 
grain was steamed in a barrel. About one and one-half 
hours was consumed in cooking a batch. It was less labor 
than grinding, and cheaper, for the fuel was no object as a 
few cobs did the business. Stock prefer steamed to ground 
