50 



BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



86. Fitting a cow for the test. — A cow must have an 

 adequate rest period before calving and must be fed so as to put 

 her in the best possible condition and have a maximum of stored-up 

 energy for milk production. It is believed that most animals will 

 produce a milk higher in butter fat at least for a short period where 



Glista Ernestine 117999 Well Fitted to Make an Official Record 

 Yearly record 23,341 pounds of milk; 833.73 pounds of butter fat. Owned 

 by Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 



they have been well fattened during fitting. Thus fattening is 

 particularly important where short-time records are concerned. 



The dry period should be somewhat longer than usual where a 

 cow is to be tested. Two to three months or even longer should 

 be allowed. In the case where heifers are to be tested we should 

 start planning for the test even farther back and not breed quite 

 as early as otherwise in order that the}' may have a better start, 



