SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 349 



THE MILK RECORD CONTEST. 



In order to interest the boys and girls in dairying and to show 

 the real value of the average dairy herd in a practical way, a Milk 

 Record Contest was organized. Any boy or girl between the ages 

 of 12 and 18 years who could weigh and test the milk from three 

 or more cows for three consecutive months was eligible to enter the 

 contest. The contest proper closed in three months, but the con- 

 testants were all encouraged to continue the work for at least one 

 year in order to get the entire lactation period of each cow. 



A supply of monthly record sheets, feed standards, and pam- 

 phlets containing all of the necessary directions for carrying on the 

 work, was furnished to each contestant. They were required to 

 furnish themselves with scales, and wherever possible, with Babcock 

 testers. In case the tester could not be secured, the contestant was 

 required to have the creamery or station man test the samples for 

 butterfat not less than twice a month. At the end of each month, 

 the records were transferred to a summary sheet and the complete 

 data mailed to the office of the association. 



The manner of grading the reports was based upon the efforts 

 put forth by the contestants, and not on the production of the cows. 

 In addition to the reports, an essay of not to exceed 500 words 

 describing the manner in which the work was carried on and the 

 benefit derived therefrom was required from each contestant. Any 

 changes which improved the rations or made the production of 

 milk more economical, were recognized, but it was realized that the 

 contestant had no opportunity to select the cows with which he 

 must work. 



The following score was used in grading reports : 



Accuracy, 25 ; number of cows, 15 ; neatness, 20 ; completeness of 

 details, 20 ; essay, 20 ; perfect score, 100. 



The breeders of dairy cattle, the publishers of dairy magazines, 

 and the manufacturers of dairy appliances assisted very mate- 

 rially in making the contest a success by offering valuable and prac- 

 tical prizes for furthering the dairy industry. 



The results of the contest are gratifying. There were 172 boys 

 and girls who completed the work. Many of these tested more than 

 the required number of cows, while some tested as high as 19 during 

 the entire contest. The reports show that 692 cows produced 

 an average of 501 pounds of milk and 20.5 pounds of butter-fat per 

 month or 16.7 pounds of milk and .68 pounds of fat per day. The 



