MILK PRODUCTION 



471 



subject will therefore be considered mainly from the point of 

 view of individual differences. 



561. Influence on yield of milk. While the actual quantity 

 of milk produced is affected by feed, care and other circum- 

 stances, the capacity of the animal as a milk producer is an 

 individual characteristic. Just as the maximum speed of 

 which a horse is capable is dependent primarily upon his con- 

 formation, spirit and other individual characteristics, while 

 the actual rate at which he travels at any given time is largely 

 dependent upon his driver, so the maximum capacity of the 

 milk cow constitutes an individual limit beyond which she can- 

 not be pushed by any amount of care or feed. 



Striking illustrations of the importance of individuality are afforded 

 by the various public tests of dairy cows. For example, in the 

 World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the conditions of the so-called 

 ninety-days test were such as to induce liberal feeding and the best 

 of care on the part of the exhibitors. The cows, numbering 74, were 

 of three different breeds and presumably represented the best avail- 

 able specimens of each breed. 



The following table shows the average daily product of the best 1 

 and the poorest cow of each breed in that test. 



TABLE 123. AVERAGE DAILY YIELD OF Cows IN NINETY-DAYS TEST, 

 WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION 2 



1 By best and poorest cows is meant those which showed the greatest and least 

 net profit under the rules of the test. 



2 Jersey Bulletin, Dec. 12, 1893. 



