FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 237 
herd, as it furnishes definite information as to changes in the 
body weight of individual cows that may occur. 
Improvement of Dairy Herds.—The most important factor to 
be ascertained by a dairy farmer is whether the cows he is feeding 
are of the dairy type and capable of a good dairy production, or 
are what are termed “ boarders ”’—cows whose milk production is 
barely sufficient to pay for the feed they 
eat. This can only be determined by 
testing the individual herds for produc- 
tion, by means of a milk scale (Fig. 
47) and a Babcock tester (Fig. 48). 
This work may be done by the farmer | 
himself or by joining a cow-testing asso- 
ciation, or by having official tests con- 
ducted under the direction of the State 
Agricultural College in codperation 
with the respective breed associations. 
Only cows that come up to a certain 
standard of production of milk or butter 
fat should be retained in the herd. This 
may be gradually increased from 250 to | 
300, 350, or even 400 pounds butter fat 
a year. Cows that do not reach the 
standard are disposed of as opportunity 
offers, unless they give promise of doing 
better in the future, as they have no | 
place in the dairy herd. 
Low producers eat considerably more 
feed per unit of production than high- | 
producing cows, and are not capable of 
an economical production. Investiga- 
tions of dairy herds at a number 
Fic. 47.—The spring milk-scale 
1 ] 12 enables the farmer to keep accurate 
of experiment: etations™ eve. clearly enables ts tuner to Keep accounts 
demonstrated the futility of making very little extra effort. (Ottawa sta- 
tion). 
dairying pay at present high prices 
for feed and labor, with cows other than of the strict dairy re that 
are good individuals; they may be pure-breds, high grade, grade, 
or natives, according to the resources and the usiness ability of 
the farmer, but they must have inbred dairy tendencies and be 
able to consume large amounts of feed without growing fat. Ac- 
cording to the experience of dairy experts, most farmers do not 
22 See Minnesota Bulletin 35; Connecticut (Storrs) Bulletin 29; Illinois 
Circular 106; Wisconsin Bulletins 102, 200, and 226. 
