CHAPTER VII 



A STANDARD AND A RECORD NECESSARY 



T^ HERE is but one way to determine the value 

 of a cow when you have her, and that is to 

 weigh and test her milk systematically. This gives 

 proof positive of her profitableness. 



Shrewd dairymen are universally adopting this 

 plan. 



Receiving good care, a cow should give six 

 thousand pounds of milk, testing at least 2-(> per 

 cent fat, or should make two hundred and fifty 

 pounds of butter in a year. A heifer should reach 

 this amount in her second lactation period. This 

 is not a high standard, but if put into force 

 throughout the country would mean that three- 

 quarters of the cows would be doomed. The 

 average yearly yield per cow is not over four 

 thousand pounds of milk. With such an average, 

 how many very poor ones there must be I What 

 about yours? In nearly every stable there are 

 sleek, gentle cows, who stretch their necks as 

 greedily as can be for mangels and meal, and who 

 walk forth with a leisurely important air to pas- 

 tures green and luxuriant, the pets often of the 

 herd; and yet if X-rays of the scales and the test 



[46] 



