214 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



in. The figures show clearly after a few days, when the 

 wound is healed, and remain permanently. 



The plan adopted by the author is to mark every calf be- 

 fore being taken from its mother. Each animal is given a 

 permanent herd number, which is recorded, and a strap placed 

 around its neck bearing this number on a brass tag. This 

 tag is worn until the animal is nearly mature and familiar to 

 the attendants. The tattoo mark is put in the ear at the age 

 of about one year, and while not suitable for identification at 

 a distance, makes it possible at any time to positively identify 

 the animal. 



PROTECTION FROM FLIES IN SUMMER 



Decline in Milk Production in Midsummer. In the latter 

 part of the summer the production of milk by the average 

 dairy herd falls off rapidly. At the same time, the animals 

 are annoyed greatly by the flies, and in the popular mind they 

 are looked upon as the chief cause of this decline. The rapid 

 falling off in milk production is illustrated by a compilation 

 made by the author. 



Sixty farmers supplying milk to the college creamery at 

 Ames, Iowa, sold only 46 pounds on August 1 for each 100 

 pounds delivered by the same parties on June 1, a decline of 

 54 per cent. At the same time, for every 100 pounds 

 produced by the college herd on June 1, 68 pounds were 

 produced on August 1. The actual difference was really 

 greater than these figures indicate, since some fresh cows were 

 added during the period to the farmers' herds, while the 

 figures from the college herd represent only those animals 

 that remained in milk during this time. 



The large decline in production with the farmers' cows 



