Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1924 [PAGE 146]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1923]

UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS

143

I. The immediate needs of the Department of Dairy Husbandry with respect to the physical equipment necessary to properly house the dairy herds. II. The future development of Dairy Husbandry that will best meet the needs for instructional purposes and at the same time serve in the most effective way the dairy interests in the State at large. III. That dairy cattle constitute but a part of the total Animal Husbandry interests of the Agricultural College and that there must be maintained a proper relation between these several allied interests. Immediate Needs Physical Equipment Your commission finds the present housing facilities entirely inadequate to accommodate the pure bred dairy herd. The principal barn is in a deplorable condition. The sills have given way, the side walls are bulging out, and the structure as a whole is unsafe and beyond the hope of any reasonable amount of repairs. The accompanying photographs give some idea of the condition of this barn. Furthermore, altho the housing facilities for this herd m a y have been adequate to meet the needs of the department when the present barn was built, some 33 years ago, they have long since been outgrown. It has been only through the utilization of every available space, much of which is unsuitable and inconveniently located, that the department has been able, in any sense, to meet the demands placed upon it by increased enrollment. In view of the condition of the present equipment and the need of room for expansion to meet the demands placed upon the department by students and State, your commission recommends the erection of a new and suitable barn at any early date. It is further recommended that this barn have facilities for housing a total of at least 150 head of dairy cattle, and that it be provided with equipment and laboratories such as will render possible the most efficient instruction and investigation in thefieldof dairy production. Future Development Based on the present need of animals for instructional purposes, together with the anticipated increased demand in this field, your commission recommends that the Pure Bred Dairy Herd be increased until it reaches a total of approximately 150 head of dairy animals. It is further recommended that there be typical representatives of the following breeds of dairy cattle; namely, Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss. That these, in so far as is consistent with the natural development of the herd, be maintained in essentially the following proportions: Breed Proportion Holstein-Friesian 35 Jersey. 25 Guernsey 15 Ayrshire. 10 Brown Swiss 15 Total 100 That the quality of the several herds be maintained at such a standard that they m a y be an inspiration alike to student and breeder. Respectfully submitted, George A. Fox

W. A. Brewerton F. K. Babson R. B. Swift W. W. Yapp H. W. MUMFORD N. W. Hepburk, Chairman

Dairy Commission