56 THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



periment seemed to clinch the fact that the cow provides the 

 butter fat in some way that we do not know about. 



A Member — My experience would confirm what has been 

 said about the relation of breeding- to butter fat, but I think 

 there is the possibility that extra feeding- and better care, may 

 change the character of the daughter's milk from what the 

 dam gave. And I think that the environment of the cow 

 which may effect the butter fat. This fall during the cold time 

 I was not getting as much butter from the same quantity of 

 milk as I am at the present time, and yet I was feeding my 

 cows as well as ever; and I thought that perhaps the cold 

 winds of the fall had an effect upon them temporarily; not to 

 affect the general amount of butter fat, but to affect them tem- 

 porarily. I would certainly emphasize the idea as to the 

 relative economy of the higher testing cows. I believe it costs 

 as much to manufacture the cheap milk as the high testing 

 milk; and that herds which test five or five and one-half per 

 cent, are more economical as butter makers than herds that 

 test under five. My own herd is taking only about 13.57 

 pounds of milk to make a pound of butter, but it took about 

 sixteen for a while from the middle part of October. As a 

 general thing I have run from fourteen to fifteen, I believe 

 these cows are more economical butter makers than other cows 

 where it takes twenty pounds of milk for a pound of butter. 

 My practice has been to breed for a high per cent, of butter 

 fat and for a good flow as well. 



President Pierce. Which cow produces the most butter, the 

 cow which tests five per cent, of butter fat or less? 



Mr. Vail. I think the cows which have produced the most 

 butter in my herd have been cows testing from five and one- 

 half to six per cent. 



President Pierce. High test cows are not always the largest 

 producers. I have one or two cows that will test seven per 

 cent, but I do not think they make as much butter as those 

 which test five and one-half or six per cent. 



Mr. Higbee. Benefit may be gotton out of this discussion 

 through mutual exchange of opinions. In regard to matters 

 of test and the butter making qualities of different cows I 

 would sa} T that I do the figuring for our creamery and handle 

 the funds. The lowest testing herds, in many cases, give the 

 largest quantity of milk. I used to think everything depend- 

 ed upon the high test but I have changed my mind in regard 

 to the matter since some of the best paying dairies are made 

 up of low test cows. Some of our patrons grumble and can- 

 not understand why it is so; it is because they get a larger 

 flow of milk. When you get to the bottom of facts it is the 

 money you are after; the dollars are the confirmation. Some 



