62 THE NORMAL COMPOSITION OF MILK 



an article of definite quality and not something that may be the 

 minimum quality produced by natural variations. To achieve 

 this, the dairyman must so grade his herd that the mixed milk 

 will at all times comply with the standard. It may be argued 

 that a rigid interpretation of a standard may inflict unnecessary 

 hardship on producers by reducing what is usually but a com- 

 paratively small margin of profit, but it is surely preferable 

 that the economic balance between producer and consumer 

 should be adjusted by an increased price rather than by a deter- 

 ioration in quality. The adjustment by price is understood by 

 everyone whereas the maintenance of the balance by a reduction 

 in quality is an invidious one only capable of being correctly 

 appreciated by experts. 



Rigid enforcement of standards is also necessary in the 

 interests of dairymen in order to prevent unfair competition, 

 as it is obviously unfair to allow some to breed for quantity 

 and supply a quality which is, perhaps, only occasionally just 

 below the standard, whilst others are supplying milk which is 

 invariably above the standard. One typical example of this 

 unfair competition which the author experienced was the case 

 of producer X, who kept pure-bred Holsteins, which produced 

 milk of the required standard, 12 per cent of total solids and 

 3.0 per cent fat, during the greater part of the year, but just 

 failed to meet it during the season when the cows " freshened." 

 An examination of the herd during this period showed that nine 

 cows, out of the 22 head comprising the herd, secreted a low 

 quality of milk and were giving an abnormally large quantity, 

 one cow producing as much as 7J gallons per day. This pro- 

 ducer had an obvious advantage over others whose herds were 

 graded with Ayrshires and other breeds giving a higher quality 

 but a smaller quantity. 



The standards prescribed in various countries show but 

 small differences; those prevailing in States, provinces and 

 cities, which have power to make local regulations unfor- 

 tunately show larger variations and these often conflict with 

 those of contiguous authorities. Table XXXIV gives a fairly 



