218 



FARM MANAGEMENT 



presence of a few poor cows. Under most conditions, 

 it is difficult to make a profit from an average cow. Since 

 about half the cows are below the average, the importance 

 of milk records is apparent. 



Most persons think that they know which are the best 

 cows, but when the milk is weighed, they nearly always 

 find that they were mistaken. 



If the milk is to be weighed, one should buy a spring 

 balance that weighs in pounds and tenths of pounds. 



. This saves much time. Nearly 



any dairy supply house or hard- 

 ware store can furnish this kind 

 of a spring balance for about $3 

 to $4. It is also convenient to 

 have two pointers, one of which 

 is adjustable. This can be set 

 to read when an empty pail is 

 hung on the scales. If there are 

 several milkers, the pails may all 

 be weighted to weigh alike by 

 soldering lead on the bottom of 

 each pail. Sometimes the results 

 are accurate enough if the milk is 

 weighed to the nearest pound. 

 The record sheet should be 

 ruled as in Figure 60 with the 

 cow's name or number at the head of the column and place 

 for morning and night's milk, one below the other, so that 

 the month's column will add readily. 



A. W. Sweeton kept track of the time required to milk a 

 herd when the milk was weighed, and found the time for 

 the same milker when not weighed. This was repeated a 

 number of times. The difference averaged 0.52 of a 



FIG. 60. Weighing the milk 

 to find which cows pay. 



