DAIEY COWS. 243 



METHODS OP JUDGING THE VALUE OF DAIRY 



COWS. 



The British Dairy Farmers' Association, which has con- 

 ducted tests of dairy cows at their annual fair for the last 

 twenty years, has during late years 'cored the dairy cows 

 competing fur premiums according to the following scale : 



I point for each pound of milk; 

 20 points for each pound of fat; 

 4 points for each pound of solids not fat. 

 I point for each ten days in milk after the first twenty 

 days (limit 200 days). 

 10 points are deducted from the total score for each 

 per cent, of fat below three per cent in the milk. 



The cows entered in the test are separated into four 

 classes, according to the breed, each class being divided 

 into two divisions, cows and heifers. The classes are 

 Shorthorns, Jerseys, Guernseys, and cross-breeds. 



Other associations abroad or in this country have not 

 generally followed any definite plan from year to year in 

 awarding premiums to dairy cows at fairs, the awards having 

 been given to cows producing most milk, or richest milk, 

 or most butter-fat, or most solids, during the test, which 

 may have lasted one to three days. At the Vermont State 

 Fair, 1S89, the following points were given : For each 20 

 days since calving, i point ; for each 10 days of gestation, 

 I point • for each 2 oz. of total solids in 24 hours' milk, i 

 point ; for eacti oz. of butter-fat in 24 hours' milk, 2 points; 

 for each 2 oz. of salted butter from 24 hours' milk, i point. 

 In the milking trials conducted by the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England, the size of the cows has been con- 

 sidered, the cows being, as a rule, separated into two 

 classes, viz., over and under rino lbs. liv'e weight. 



From the best information at hand at the present, the 

 system of awards adopted by the British Dairy Farmers' 

 Association, and given above, must be considered the most 

 perfect and the most just to all concerned Its main short- 

 comings lie, as it would seem, in its not considering the 

 food eaten by each animal during the test, and in the fact 

 tliai the test is made at the fair, and not at home under 



