Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 075
Image details
| Year | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
|
| OCR Text |
138 MILK RECORDS. DEFINITIONS. The milk records compiled by the Association are records of the estimated quantity of milk produced by each cow in a separate lactation, and of the estimated percentage of milk fat contained in the milk. For convenience a gallon of milk is reckoned as 10 lb. A gallon of milk of average quality weighs almost exactly 10% lb. The following further particulars concerning each record were also given wherever possible :— Name of cow, byre number, and herd-book number. Sire of cow and herd-book number of sire. Dam of cow and herd—book number of dam. Date of birth. Date of calving preceding opening of record. Number of weeks in milk. Date of calving after record closed. The following particulars of the preceding record were appended to each record, where available :— Date of calving preceding opening of record. Quantity of milk in gallons. Percentage of fat in milk. Number of weeks in milk. The milk yields were estimated in respect of quantity and milk-fat percentage from the results of systematic periodic tests by trained recorders approved by the Association. The recorders visited the farms for this purpose at intervals varying from twenty-one to twenty-eight days, and each day of visit was regarded as the middle day of the period covered by the test. Milk records estimated in this way approximate closely to the actual milk yields. METHOD OF RECORDING—OFFICIAL RECORDS. A distinctive feature of milk recording in Scotland in 1939, as in previous years, was that the official records were entirely the work of trained official recorders. Recorders had previously to undergo a special course of training in milk recording at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, or other approved College of Agriculture. Only candidates of good character and good general education were selected to attend these courses ; and all recorders, before appointment, were approved by the Executive Committee of the Association. All dairy farmers taking advantage of the Association’s scheme were arranged into Local Milk Recording Societies employing one or more recorders, the Executive Committee having the power to transfer members from one local society to another, in order to find accommodation for new applicants, and at the same time avoid overlapping of recorders’ circuits. MILK RECORDS. 139 Each local society applying to the Association for licence to conduct milk recording under the Association’s scheme signed the form containing the Association’s rules and regulations, and agreed to conform to these rules. The local society selected and appointed their recorder or recorders from the list of approved recorders obtained from the Association. Apparatus, chemicals, sheets, and books were selected and arranged for by the Association, all byre sheets and record books used by the recorders being supplied free of charge. Thus uniformity of method was, as far as possible, assured. The official recorder visited each herd at intervals of not more than twenty-eight days, or more usually from twenty to twenty—six days. He, or she, arrived at the farm in the afternoon, usually by means of a small pony and trap provided bv the local society for the purpose, or by motor-car, and was accommodated at the farm overnight. All cows giving milk in each herd, as far as was possible, were included in the records. Each cow was clearly distinguished in the byre by a stall number on the wall, immediately in front of and above the level of the cow, and registered animals were also indelibly tattooed on the ears with distinctive registered tattoo markings. The cows were milked in the same rotation, evening and morning, on the occasion of the reeorder’s visit. The recorder weighed and sampled the milk of each cow in the evening, noting the time at which each cow was milked, and entered the results in the corresponding columns in the byre sheet, taking up a position in the byre as near to the Inilkers as possible, so as to have them in full view, and, as far as practicable, receiving the milk direct from the milker at the cow’s side. He again weighed and sampled the milk of each cow in a similar manner in the morning, and entered the results in the byre sheets. He then tested the mixed evening and morning proportionate sample for each cow by the Gerber method for percentage of milk fat. He entered in the byre sheet any unusual conditions likely to affect the milk yields. The recorder was required to see that all milk samples and byre sheets were securely locked up overnight or during his absence. From the daily results the recorder calculated and completed the byre sheets, multiplying the yields by the exact number of days which had elapsed since the last test, but so calculating throughout that each day of visit was regarded as the middle day of the period covered by the test. Special ready-reckoners were used to facilitate calculating and to ensure greater accuracy. The byre sheets were written Out in duplicate. The principal Copies were posted at regular intervals to the office of the Association, and the second copies left with the respective members. The recorder transferred the results from the extended byre sheets to the milk record book for the herd my: 4 . .; (P'll-k ...-‘._.31133U411§i;. "" ‘ “ ‘ ,0. - |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 075 |
