May 3, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 345 



The Scottish Milk Records Association. 



L. T. MacINNES, Dairy Expert. 



The reco)ds of the above Association show that interesting work has been 

 proceeding for some years in Scotland in the way of herd-testing, and a few 

 particulars should be of interest to dairy fanners in New South Wales. 



The movement was inaugurated in 1D03 with only one testing unit, iu 

 which were twelve herds comprising 389 cows. From that time steady 

 expansion took place until the Association was formed with a new constitu- 

 tion on 28th February, 1914, in accordance with a scheme approved by the 

 Board of Agriculture for Scotland and the Development Commissioners, an 

 annual grant of not more than £2,000 being obtained from the Government 

 to aid in carrying out and expanding the work and in keeping records in a 

 proper and business-like manner. 



In the year 1914, 26,424 cows from 641 herds were tested, while in 1915, 

 notwithstanding the outbreak of war, 26,572 cows were entered under 

 thirty-five separate units, each with its trained tester. 



The Scottish Society had the same experience as the New South Wales 

 and other kindred bodies, in that the testers in nearly every instance were 

 at the front. In the case of Scotland, their places were filled where possible 

 by qualified young women, but the dislocation caused by the war also 

 brought about a scarcity of labour and of cattle foods, and a serious 

 diminution in the supply of artificial manures. Some farmers thought it 

 best to discontinue testing, but the Committee unanimously decided to carry 

 on, and the great majority of the units being in agreement, operations were 

 continued, it being felt that in that way the best means of increasing 

 jn-ofluction were being adopted. 



The Method of Classification. 



In Australia we record the yields of tested cows in pounds of milk and 

 butter-fat, giving the average test, and making our comparisons in terms of 

 butter-fat, that being considered the best and simplest basis on which to 

 work. But in Scotland a great deal of milk is sold for city purposes, and a 

 method has been devised by the Association with the object of taking into 

 account both the quantity and the quality of the milk. The method 

 adopted is to reduce all yields to the estimated equivalent of 1 per cent. fat. 

 Thus a cow yielding 838 gallons of milk testing 8 per cent, is regarded as 

 equal to one yielding 714 gallons but testing 3-5 per cent., or a third yielding 

 625 gallons testing 4 per cent. If the average test is also given, this 

 information will enable both the total quantity and the quality of each 

 cow's milk to be obtained. Unless this is done, the facts as to any particular 

 cow — which for breeding purposes are most important — cannot be arrived at. 



