FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 53 



Milk scales should be procured which are so arranged 

 that when the pail of milk is hung upon the scales it will 

 record the net weight of the milk in pounds and tenths of 

 pounds. A lead pencil and milk sheet should be placed at 

 a convenient place and the pounds and tenth pounds re- 

 corded on the scales placed on the milk sheet. After the 

 weight of the milk has been recorded on the milk sheet, the 

 milk in the pail is thoroughly stirred and a small sample 

 taken to be tested. The milk should be weighed and a 

 sample taken of each milking for the two milkings in one 

 day. The pounds of milk and butter fat produced by each 

 cow should be multiplied by the number of days in that par- 

 ticular month. 



The milk must be weighed one day in each month and 

 at the end of the year you have an approximate record of 

 the production of each cow in the herd. 



Each cow in the herd should have a name or number. 

 The testing can be done by any ordinary dairyman provided 

 he has a Babcock tester, or, usually his buttermaker or 

 creameryman will do the testing for him. Wherever it can 

 be done, it is better to join a cow testing association and 

 have the testing done by a tester who runs the association. 



If you are a member of a cow testing association, you 

 will not only have the average milk and butter fat produc- 

 tion of each cow, but you will also have the amount of feed 

 consumed by each cow in a year, as well as the returns 

 above feed cost. These records will show whether a cow is 

 making a profit or losing money for you. 



It is not only essential to have good cows to make a 

 profit, but it is just as necessary to feed the good cow the 

 right kind of feed and all she will consume at a profit. 



About 50 or 60 per cent of the feed the cow eats goes 

 for body maintenance and energy used in milk production. 

 Whatever a cow consumes over this amount goes for milk 

 production. If she is fed only enough to furnish what is 

 required for maintenance and energy, she can produce very 

 little milk. 



When cows are on good pasture during the month of 

 June, conditions are ideal for economical milk production. 



