CATTLE 291 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. Are the cattle on your home farm of dairy breed, 

 beef breed, or "general purpose" breed? Talk with your 

 father and learn the lineage of each of your milk cows. 

 Are they "blooded," "grade," or "scrub" stock? Is your 

 herd being "selected" toward any pure breed? 



2. Is the milk produced by your cows weighed and 

 tested for butter-fat? If so, how does the record of the 

 herd compare with the herds referred to in the chap- 

 ter? If no tests are being made, talk with your father about 

 getting the apparatus for the Babcock test'. After making 

 the test under the direction of the teacher, bring samples 

 of milk from home and make the test for several of your 

 cows with the school tester. 



3. Weigh the milk produced by each of your cows for a 

 week, keeping a careful record. Now have your father 

 help you estimate what each cow will produce during one 

 year, taking into account the length of time each one milks, 

 and the changes due to season, etc. 



4. Weigh carefully the feed that is regularly given 

 *one of your cows for one day. Compare with the sample 



rations shown in the chapter. Are you feeding a balanced 

 ration ? If not, in which nutrient is it short ? What should 

 be done? 



5. Make a careful study of the distinguishing marks of 

 each of the chief dairy breeds, and learn to identify dif- 

 ferent breeds at sight. 



6. Consider the conditions of your home dairy barn. 

 Has it plenty of light? Is it well ventilated? Are the 

 stalls the right length for the cows ? Is the floor tight ? Are 

 'the rear gutter and the feed trough of a good type ? Is the 

 barn clean ? Does it smell bad ? 



7. What steps are taken in your dairy toward 

 cleaning the cows each time before milking? Do the cows 

 get soiled from the stalls? Are the milkers' hands washed 

 before milking? What kind of a strainer do you use? Is 

 your milk clean when it is ready for cooling. 



8. Has your state a law requiring the tuberculin test 

 for dairy herds? Has your father's herd had the test? 



