TESTED DAIRY ANIMALS MINNESOTA. 261 



respond to further forcing, but -unfortunately nothing is said or written in 

 regard to this particular phase of the work. 



The records of the station referred to show that a test covering a 

 short period, or even one or two years, throws but little light on the kind 

 of cow that is best adapted for dairy work. This is clearly demonstrated 

 in the year's test of the Guernsey cow, Sweet Briar, and the common cow, 

 Fairy. 



Lbs. Lbs. 

 ONE YEAR'S RECORD. Milk. Butter. 



Sweet Briar, Guernsey 3501 206 



Fairy, Common 8867 384 



Lbs. Lbs. 



AVERAGE OF FIVE YEAR'S RECORD. Milk. Butter. 



Sweet Briar 6501 380 



Fairy 6544 286 



Had the record ended with only one year's test the common cow would 

 have been declared the better, but by continuing the test during the five 

 years it was found that Sweet Briar was by far the better butter cow. Both 

 entered the station herd when they were six years of age. Fairy remained 

 six years, when she passed her usefulness, being 12 years old and failing to 

 breed. Her average yearly yield during her life was 6331 pounds of milk 

 and 273 pounds of butter, while Sweet Briar is now in her 17th year and is 

 due to calve on New Year's day. Her yield for the ten years has been as 

 follows : 



SWEET BRIAR PRODUCTION FOR PAST TEN YEARS. 



Year. Milk. % Fat. Butter Fat. Butter. 



1891-2 6510.3 5.22 339.59 396.19 



1892-3 7352.0 5.00 367.48 428.72 



1893-4 4515.6 5.03 227.40 265.30 



1894-5 7534.1 4.96 373.50 435.75 



1895-6 6604.0 4.86 321.28 374.83 



1896-7 7770.9 5.41 420.86 491.00 



1897-8 3501.3 5.06 177.10 206.62 



1898-9 / 5301.9 4.95 262.74 306.53 



1899-0 5491.7 4.76 261.58 305.18 



1900-1 7160.5 4.27 305.75 356.71 



Average 6174.2 4.95 305.73 356.68 



From this table we see that even under exceptionally good care, cows 

 will vary considerably from year to year in the flow and quality of milk, 

 and that it requires several years of careful and accurate testing to determine 

 the value of a cow in the dairy. Sweet Briar is doubtless the only cow in 



