Bulletin 142, Dairying in Florida


real fact may be that she will not produce that amount of milk
daily for more than a month or six weeks. It is also possible
that she will not give milk for more than six months out of the
twelve. To know the producing ability of any cow it is neces-
sary to keep a record of the milk produced each day during the
lactation period. Very few dairymen in Florida appreciate the
importance of milk records.

 A CONVENIENT RECORD SHEET
 There is a large number of styles of record sheets available for
 keeping milk and feed records. Most of these are large and
 cumbersome, especially when adapted for twenty-five or more
 cows. Figure 18 illustrates a 5 by 8 inch card ruled and printed

 COW NO. 59 MILK RECORD OCTOBER 1916
 POUNDS
 Date A.M. P.M. ate A.M. P.M. Date A.M. P.M. Date A.M. P.M.
 S17.2 13.8 9 16.9 13-0 17 175 13.2 s2 175 13.0
 2 17.6 14.0 to 173 12.? 18 17.1 12.7 26 18.1 13.7
 3 178 12.-8 178 13.0 19 172 12.9 27 177 14.2
 4 172 13.4 12 16.9 13.3 20 18.0 13.6 28 18. 13.8
 6 16.8 13.6 13 16.9 13.0 211 76 13.5- 29 18.5 1H.
 6 17.4 13. 4 14 .4 12.8 22 19.5 13.8 30 18.1 13.4
 7 172 131 is15 -2 14.8 23 18.2 14.1 31 17.8 13.
 8 I_-R 13.7 i6 17.3 14.5 24 179 15.7
 TOTAL FOR MONTH 990.4 POUNI~
 Percent Butterfat 4.7 Value of milk at 30 per Gal.33.15
 Pounds Butterfat 14.. Cost of feed "
 Pound Butter 52.1 Profit 21
 Date Served / Served By

 FIG. 18.-Milk record card
in such form as to make it very satisfactory for keeping milk
records. With but slight variations, it may be adapted to the
keeping of feed records. Such cards have been used at this
Station for the last year and have been found more nearly satis-
factory than any other record sheet used.

 HOW MUCH SHOULD A GOOD COW PRODUCE
 Since quantity plays such an important part in the cost of pro-
ducing milk the question may be asked, how much milk must a
cow produce to be considered a profitable dairy cow?
 A certain amount of milk being required to offset the cost of