74 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Testing of Pure-hred Cows. 



The work of testing cows for the various cattle associations 

 continues to increase. Such work is a tax upon the time of the 

 head of this section, and, owing to the uncertainty of steady em- 

 ployment, it is often difficult to secure men to do the work. Two 

 men are now employed permanently in connection with the 

 Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire tests. The rules of the above 

 associations require the presence of a supervisor once each month ■ 

 for two consecutive days at the farms where animals are on 

 test. The milk yields noted by the supervisors at their monthly 

 visits are used in checking the records reported by the owners 

 to the several cattle clubs. The Babcock tests obtained at that 

 time are likewise reported, and used as a basis for computing 

 the butter fat yield for each month. Up to June 1, 1910, the 

 supervisors were only required to spend one day in testing 

 Guernsey cows. At the annual meeting of the American Guern- 

 sey Cattle Club, in May, 1910, the rules were changed so as to 

 require a two-day monthly test. While this practically doubles 

 the work for this breed, it is felt that a two-day basis is much 

 more accurate in computing tests. 



During the past year 1 214-day test and 44 yearly tests with 

 Guernsey cows, 10 7-day and 88 yearly tests with Jersey cows, 

 and a number of yearly tests with Ayrshire cows have been com- 

 pleted. 



The Holstein-Friesian tests usually cover periods of from 7 

 to 30 days, and require the presence of a supervisor during the 

 entire test. During the past year 16 different men have been 

 employed at different times in conducting these tests, which 

 give rather irregular employment during the winter months. 

 On account of the uncertainty of the work such men are diffi- 

 cult to obtain, but thus far it has not been necessary for the ex- 

 periment station to refuse an application. For the Holstein- 

 Friesian association 11-2 7-day, 5 14-day, 11 30-day, and one 

 semi-official year test have been completed. 



There are now on test for yearly records 96 Jersey, 28 

 Guernsey and 8 Ayrshire cows. 



