17 



For the Dairyman 



EIGHT REASONS FOR KEEPING MILK RECORDS AT 

 THE KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS FARM, WHICH ARE 

 EQUALLY TRUE WHEN APPLIED TO OTHER ISL- 

 AND HERDS. 



By Prof. Ralph J. Borden. 



1 — They form the basis upon which the dairy herd is being con- 

 tinually improved. No dairyman can afford to buy a herd 

 bull whose dam does not have an authentic record of milk 

 and butterfat production. Nor can any dairyman afford to 

 raise calves to maturity unless he has every assurance that 

 they will prove worth raising. 



2 — They enable the feeder to feed each cow according to the 

 quantity of milk she produces. Present high cost of con- 

 centrate feeds makes it necessary that every cow pay in 

 milk production for the feed she consumes. 



3 — They stimulate better feeding and breeding. The use of a bal- 

 anced ration is soon evident in the way the cows respond at 

 the pail. The daughters of the best producers usually give 

 proof at an early age of their ability to surpass their dam in 

 milk secretion. 



4 — Records enable the dairyman to sell cows where other qualities 

 fail. A cow with a record of production is worth 25% to 

 50% more than one without. 



5 — The weighing of the milk keeps the owner in close touch with 

 the daily condition of the cow. There are many cases of 

 serious illness which could have been prevented in their 

 early stages when the milk record began to drop and give 

 evidence of something wrong with the animal's condition. 



6 — Records stimulate better milking. They serve as a check on 

 the milker, and induce him to milk more thoroughly than 

 when the milk is not weighed. 



7 — A knowledge of what each animal is doing develops personal 

 pride and interest in the herd. 



8 — They make dairying a business proposition and in more ways 

 than one mean more money to the owners. 

 It takes about a minute a day to weigh and record the milk of 



each cow, but it is a minute well spent and one which will amply 



pay for itself. Try it, dairymen, on a few cows, and see how 



quickly you will appreciate the value of keeping milk records. 



