SUGGESTIONS ON SELECTION 



83 



which can be made on an animal. Dairy records are of value, 

 depending on the length of time the tests are conducted! 

 Weekly or even monthly tests should not be used in estimat- 

 ing or determining the value of an animal. The variation 

 in the lactation period of dairy cattle is so great that only 

 tests conducted for yearly periods or longer should be given 

 absolute credence. Such a test furnishes the average pro- 

 duction from the high to the low point in lactation and, 

 consequently, the average ability in productiveness. A 



Fig. 11. — AjTshire cow with a record of 13,789 puuiids of milk and 

 564.39 pounds of butter fat in one year. Not an exceptionally high record 

 but a good standard of production. 



record taken from a dairy animal in the early stages of 

 lactation represents an abnormal or unnatural condition. 

 Any one purchasing an animal with a record so determined 

 is usually disappointed in the ultimate results. Oftentimes 

 animals with large early lactation records are non-continuous 

 producers and therefore unprofitable to the stockmen or 

 dairymen. A record based on a low productive period may 

 likewise show apparent inferiority when an average record 

 for a year would show such an animal to be an acceptable 

 producer. These tests should be made at a normal period of 



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