CHAP. i. MILK-YIELDING CAPACITY OF COWS. 248 



the butter-yielding capacity of each cow, and as to the butter ratio of 

 the milk. The high quality of the niilk of certain Jersey cows is 

 remarkable : One yielded milk containing 19 per cent, of total solids, 

 of which 9J per cent, was fat; the butter ratio being 11*4 Ib. of milk 

 to 1 Ib. of butter. Another yielded milk containing over 17 per cent, 

 of total solids, of which 8 per cent, was fat ; here the butter ratio 

 was 11 '3 Ib. of milk to 1 Ib. of butter, or at the rate of over 23 Ib. of 

 butter per week. The following tables shew the milking capacity of 

 Shorthorns, Jerseys, and Guernseys, the only breeds which have been 

 tested by the Association in numbers sufficient to give a reliable picture 

 of their value as milk-producers. But the few Devons, Ayrshires, Red 

 Polls, and Kerries, which have been under test, give very satisfactory 

 and promising results, as also does the single Welsh cow that has been 

 entered : 



Lb. of Milk Percentage of Percentage 



Breed. per day. Total Solids. of Fats. 



119 Shorthorns 43-13 . 12-87 373 



31 



HSJersej-s . 

 43 

 49 Guernseys 

 14 



44-80 

 27-87 

 28-41 

 28-30 

 31-15 



12-89 

 14-36 

 14-94 

 14-00 

 14-46 



3-81 

 4-56 

 5-47 

 477 

 5-03 



In connection with these figures it must be borne in mind that while 

 the Shorthorns yield more milk, though not necessarily a larger 

 aggregate of solids in the milk, than either of the other two breeds, 

 they are larger cattle, requiring more sustenance, and a greater breadth 

 of land per cow ; they are, however, much more valuable as butchers' 

 beasts when fat, and therefore more profitable when they go barren, or 

 have seen the best of their days as milkers. Eleven Ayrshires, tested 

 at the Dairy Show, yielded an average of 34*26 Ib. of milk each per 

 day, containing 13*43 per cent, of total solids, of which 4*15 was fat ; 

 as these are small cattle, hardy, energetic, suitable for inferior land, 

 and for trying climates, it will be seen that they are among the most 

 valuable of our milking breeds. 



Fed and treated similarly, it will generally be found that cows 

 yielding the smallest quantity will afford the richest quality of milk ; 

 but this is not by any means an unvarying rule, and we sometimes 

 meet with very striking instances to the Contrary. Both quantity and 

 quality frequently vary, in any cow of arty breed, or as between any 

 two or more cows of any given breed, of the same age, of similar size 

 and constitution, fed on the same quality and quantity of food, and so 

 on. The state of health of the cow, changes in the weather, in food, 

 in treatment, the period of the year, the time which has elapsed since 

 calving, the degree of succulency and digestibility of the food, the 

 gentleness and attention which are bestowed, &c., &c., have each and 

 all a distinct though perhaps not sufficiently appreciated influence on 

 the flow and quality of the milk. Good old pasture land, not necessarily 

 the richest, but sound land, with a good assortment of indigenous 

 grasses, improved if needful by judicious top-dressing, will as a rule 

 yield the best qualities of both cheese and butter ; but rank pastures, 



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