THE YIELD OF MILK 



91 



CHAPTER III 



THE YIELD OF MILK 



Raising the standard. — It is interesting to note 

 that the average production of milk and butter per 

 cow in the United States has been increasing slowly 

 yet constantly from one decade to another. The 

 following data shows the census returns from 1850 

 to 1900: 



Average Production per Cow in the United States 



While this increase is encouraging, even the 

 record for the year 1900 is too low to afford the 

 dairyman much profit at the average price for milk 

 and butter. The record indicates further that many 

 dairymen whose herds are below the average in 

 production must be keeping cows at a loss. As a 

 matter of business, then, and a condition essential 

 to best results, every dairyman should study the 

 individuality of his cows, set a standard, and main- 

 tain it by promptly disposing of the animals which 

 fail to attain it, unless he has reason to believe that 

 an animal will make a better record in the future. 

 When the standard is reached it should be grad- 

 ually but persistently raised. This can be done by 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



