262 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



months, 7 days; milk, 371 lbs. ; per cent, fat, 3.45; estimated butter, 

 80 per cent., fat, 15 lbs. 15.9 oz.; 85.7 per cent, fat, 15 lbs. 15.8 oz. 



Cows between 3^ and 4 years old, 30, averaging; age, 3 years, 9 

 months; milk, 3G7 lbs.; per cent, fat, 3.32; estimated butter, 80 per 

 cent.,- fat, 15 lbs. 2.2 oz.; 85.7 per cent, fat, 15 lbs. 2 oz. 



Cows between 3 and 3^ years old, 22, averaging; age, 3 years, 2 

 months, 25 days; milk, 359.7 lbs.; per cent, fat, 3.39; estimated but- 

 ter, 80 per cent., fat, 15 lbs. 3.9 oz.; 85.7 per cent, fat, 15 lbs. 3.7 oz. 



Cows between 2^ and 3 years old, 25, averaging; age, 2 years, 9 

 mouths, 15 days; milk, 308.4 lbs.; per cent, fat, 3.32; estimated 

 butter, 80 per cent., fat, 12 lbs. 12 oz.; 85.7 per cent, fat, 11 lbs. 14.4 

 oz. 



Cows under 2-J years old, G2, averaging; age, 2 years, 9 days; 

 milk, 277.5 lbs.; per cent, fat, 3.2; estimated butter, 80 per cent., 

 fat, 11 lbs. 1.8 oz.; 85.7 per cent, fat, 10 lbs. 5.9 oz. 



Here the inquiry frequently arises: "Why use the two factors, 80 

 per cent, and 85.7 per cent., to convert the fat found in the milk to 

 equivalent of butter?" The latter is used because it is the factor 

 adopted by the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and 

 p]xperiment Stations, the former because the results reached by it 

 more justly compare with records that have been made by the churn 

 and received in past years to our Advanced Register, We have 

 several hundred of such records sworn to by the owners of the cows 

 and by their assistants in making them. These records are valuable, 

 although made by an inexact method liable to great abuse unless 

 guarded by the strictest practicable regulations. They are the 

 only means we have of knowing the capacities of the great cows 

 of our breed that lived and died before the invention of the Babcock 

 test. During the last six months I have closely examined the but- 

 ter tests made by the churn that have been reported in the dairy 

 and cattle journals that have come to my desk. My object has 

 been to ascertain the amount of fat, found in the milk, that was re- 

 quired in each case to make a pound of butter. Only a few of 

 such records gave any clew by which this was discoverable. In a 

 majority of tests where it was discoverable I have found that from 

 75 to 80 per cent, was required, a few required less than 75 per cent., 

 one a trifle more than 70 per cent., a few required over 80 per cent., 

 but none required as much as 85.7 per cent. 



SYSTEMS OF REGISTRATION. 



In the Netherlands and Friesian herd books, entries of bulls cannot 

 be made before they are stock-getters, nor cows before producing 

 calves. Every animal must also show superior i)hyslcal develop- 

 ment. The entry gives the age and description, including height 

 at shoulders, height at hips, length of body, smallest circumference 



