410 THK OVERRUN 



and all fractions of over one-quarter and three-quarters per cent in 

 the test would be recorded as half per cents and as whole per cents 

 respectively, while all fractions below the quarter and below the 

 three-quarter pounds and per cents would be ignored. By this sys- 

 tem of "give and take," it is claimed by some, these unreadable frac- 

 tions would be taken care of equitably, both to the farmer and to 

 the creamery. 



From the standpoint of absolute correctness, this system would 

 be more nearly ideal, but it is impracticable in commercial operation. 

 It is too complicated and confusing to be adaptable to the routine of 

 creamery operation; in fact, it is not done. The unreadable frac- 

 tions are either not recognized, or they are recorded as half or whole 

 pounds and per cents respectively. There can be no double method, 

 and since long established custom of the industry accepts, and busi- 

 ness competition demands, the ignoring of the unreadable fractions, 

 these fractions are, in fact, ignored. 



The gains in overrun which these unreadable and unrecognized 

 fractions effect will naturally vary. Under average conditions they 

 may amount to about 2 to 4%. In creameries in which the general 

 standard of efficiency is low, these gains are more than offset by the 

 mechanical losses. In creameries which maintain a high standard 

 of efficiency, reducing the mechanical losses to the minimum, these 

 gains very appreciably exceed the mechanical losses and result in the 

 production of an overrun slightly higher than the maximum 

 overrun possible on the basis of the calculations of the theo- 

 retical overrun. 



Other conditions being the same, the increase in the overrun 

 due to the unrecognized fractions varies largely with the amount 

 and richness of each individual shipment of cream ; the smaller the 

 amount of fat contained in each individual shipment of cream, the 

 greater must necessarily be the effect of the undeterminable and 

 unrecognized fractions on the overrun. Hence these gains actually 

 amount to more in the case of creameries whose individual ship- 

 pers, ship largely only in 5-gallon cans than in the case of cream- 

 eries that receive most of their shipments in 8 and 10-gallon cans. 



The following arbitrary example may serve to illustrate the 

 influence of the unrecognized fractions of weights and tests of 

 cream and of the resulting fat calculations on the overrun: .>" 



