118 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



1901, calculated from the lactometer readings and fat percent-- 

 ages, by Babcock's formula. During 1901, and in other 

 years when samples were more than twenty-four hours old^ 

 the gravimetric method was employed. 



The tests appear in the following tables, and probably 

 show the composition of Ayrshire milk with respect to fat 

 and total solids as well as is possible. The animals must be 

 regarded as fully representative of the breed, and the number 

 of cows in each herd is sufficiently large to insure a fairly 

 average period of lactation. The percentages of fat range 

 from 3.48 to 4.40, and those of total solids from 11. 71 to 13.27. 

 The general average for all the tests given, 3.SS per cent, of 

 fat and 12.55 percent, of total solids. 



In scanning the columns of total solids and daily yield, 

 one cannot avoid the conclusion that some of the herds are 

 developing the quantity of milk at the expense of quality. 



In the tests for i90i-'o2, it was found that in the case of 

 twenty-one cows whose periods of lactation allowed a com- 

 parison of the first and second months, fifteen gave the- 

 higher fat test in the first month, and thirteen produced the 

 higher yield of milk in the second month. The table shows 

 this result very clearly. 



