HOW INDIVIDUAL SELECTION IS MADE 137 



of milk produced by the individual is taken into account; 

 and unless a daily record is at hand, there is no basis upon 

 which to estimate the amount of feed each individual 

 requires. Daily records also enable the herdsman to de- 

 tect sickness quicker than would otherwise be the case. If 

 there is a noticeable decline in the amount of milk produced, 

 with no apparent cause, it is certain the animal is not in the? 

 right condition and will probably show a more marked case of 

 sickness very soon, if not properly treated. When such a 

 sudden decline occurs, the herdsman, by adjusting the ration 

 and giving the cow some special attention, will be able in 

 many cases to prevent the development of what might be a 

 serious case of sickness. 



Again daily weighing makes it possible to judge of the work 

 done by different milkers. It is a well-known fact that some 

 milkers are able to secure much more milk from the same 

 cows than are others. This difference may be as much as 25 

 per cent, or even more. Especially where there are several 

 milkers in the same herd, it is impossible to form a fair estimate 

 of their work unless each man milks the same animals regu- 

 larly and each lot of milk is weighed and recorded. 



Without records certain cows often become favorites of the 

 milkers for some reason, either on account of the disposition 

 of the animal or the easy milking; and these favorites are 

 held to be the best cows by the milker; and often the truth 

 regarding their value cannot be told except from the records. 

 It is the experience of all who have adopted the plan that the 

 advantages above enumerated more than pay for the extra 

 time required. The greatest advantage, of course, is making 

 it possible to know the profitable cow and dispose of the in- 

 ferior animals. 



