J907-] 



Milk Tests and Records. 



to enhance the value of stock sold, and affords some indication 

 of the health of the animals. 



The enormous difference in the quantity of milk yielded 

 by different cows is well known. An example may bo quoted 

 from some experiments carried out by Mr. Alex. Lauder for the 

 East of Scotland Agricultural College, where the milk yield of a 

 herd of cows was under investigation. Here it was found thai 

 the yield of the best cow in a year was 1,505 gallons and of 

 the worst 478 gallons, and taking the value of the milk at 

 6%d. a gallon, the five best cows produced milk worth £149 5s. 

 or £29 17s. each, while the five which stood lowest on the list 

 produced only £85 8s. or £17 is. each. Variations of this sort 

 are not uncommon, and although in a general way farmers are 

 able to distinguish between the good and bad milkers in their 

 herds, a difference of 100 or even 200 gallons is not so easily 

 appreciated without accurate records. A difference of 100 

 gallons at 6\d. is, however, worth 52s., and it is not too much 

 to say that cows in the same herd frequently differ in their 

 production by as much as £5 without the owner being aware 

 of it. 



Records of milk yields are not difficult to keep and take a 

 very small amount of time and trouble. All that is necessary 

 is a spring balance to which a pail can be hung. This can be 

 obtained with a dial-plate marked in gallons and pounds 

 with an allowance for the weight of the pail. The pail con- 

 taining the milk obtained from each cow should bo weighed 

 and ih'' weight in pounds noted on a sheet which should be 

 fastened up in the cowhouse near the spring balance. It 

 should be ruled so as to take the record of each cow in the 

 herd for a week or a month, as may be desired. This work 

 should be made part of the dailv routine and will be found 

 to occupy very little time. An accurate result is thus 

 obtained, and there is less likelihood of its being overlooked. 



The total yield ran. however, be estimated with approxi- 

 mate accuracy by weighing the milk for one day in each week 

 or each fortnight and multiplying the figure obtained by <e\vn 

 or fourteen. If this is done systematically a record will be 

 obtained which is sufficiently close for the purpose of com- 

 paring one cow with another or for deciding whether a cow 



paying her way. According to some experiments made in 



