19-21.] 



services of the INTinistrv's Live Stock Officcis are at their 

 disposal, and the advice whicli is iiicreasin.uly soii^jht is 

 evidence of the gradual penetration of the schonie into districts 

 where the need foi- live stock ini|)r()V(M)i(Mit is greatest. 



The [Ministry's ]\Iilk Recording Scheme was handicapped 

 in its initial stages by the War, and progress was at first 

 The Progress of ^^^'^^^^^^i^>' -^^o^'- ^^"ling the year 1916-17 

 Milk "Rpcordin ^^^arly 13,000 cows were recorded in 

 England and Wales. In the following 

 year the lunnber increased to 20,000, a year later to 38,000, 

 and last year to 60,000. The number at present being recorded 

 is over 85,000, and there will undoubtedly be a still further 

 increase during the present year. Tn one county the !Milk 

 Recording Society has increased from 10 members with '20 

 herds in 1914 to 83 members with 88 herds at the present 

 time. 



The rapid progress now being made is due to the growing 

 appreciation of the advantages to be gained by milk recording. 

 The initial expense and the trouble involved, which made 

 many farmers reluctant to adopt the practice, have been 

 proved by those who were wise enough to give the system a. 

 trial, to be well worth while. By keeping milk records the 

 farmer knows just what his cows are yielding, and can ensure 

 that he keeps no cow that does not earn her keep. The varia- 

 tion in the value of the milk produced per ^cow in different 

 herds is very striking. From figures available for the year 

 1919-20 it was seen that the average cow in the best herd 

 gave -^'00 worth of milk (valued at Is. 6d. per gallon). The 

 average cow in the urcnKjc hod yie^ld(Hl I' IT woi'th of milk, 

 and the average c-ow in the poorest herd only 1'37 woith 

 Figures like these bring home to the farmer the desirability 

 of ascertaining the milking capabilities of his cows, which, 

 moreover, he can have officially certified by the ]\rinistiy il 

 his records have been carried out in accordance with ihe 

 [Ministry's regulations. 



Certificates of milk yield are issued by the Ministry tor 

 milk recorded cows, and give, in addition to the milk yield of 

 the cow, her summarised histoi y for the ptM iod covered bv 

 (he certificates. The-" certificates have had a ]-emarkable 

 effect on the j^rices i(\ilised at sales of recordful cows. As 

 much as i'28.*) was paid last veai* for a non-j)r!rnin'c cow with 



