]28 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Average Composition of Milk. 



The results of the analyses of the milk of these forty-two cows 

 show that the milk of well-fed cows in houses in the last quarter 

 of the year contains, when poorest, i.e., in the morning, 13-90 per 

 cent, of solid matter, including 4-20 per cent, of fats. On the 

 2nd November the mixed milk of eight cows which happened to 

 be in the same house was analysed. One hundred parts con- 

 tained : — 



Ter cent. 



Total Solid Matters . . . 13-90 



Solids minus Fats . . . . 9 "75 



Fats 4-15 



Ash ...... 0-72 



The Society of Public Analysts of Great Britain and Ireland 

 have adopted as a standard for the poorest pure milk 9 per cent, 

 of solids minus fats, and 2-5 per cent, of fats— a total of 11-5 per 

 cent, of solids. There is little doubt that milk containing less 

 than 11 '5 per cent, is watered or skimmed. Still the results of 

 the analyses of the milk of the Glasnevin cows prove that the 

 milk of an individual cow may contain less than 11-5 per cent. 

 of solids minus fats. In twenty -five instances the solids minus 

 fats are less than 9 per cent. So far as house-fed cattle in Ireland 

 are concerned, 9 per cent, of solids minus fats should be reduced 

 to 8*5 per cent. At the same time, if the milk be the mixed 

 product of several cows, say eight and upwards, then 9 per cent, 

 would be a fair proportion to expect. In the mixed milk (morn- 

 ing'sj of the forty-two cows the solid matter minus fats was 0'7 

 per cent, above the standard figure 9, whilst the average of the 

 forty-two analyses of the morning's milk gave only an excess of 

 0"S8 per cent, above the standard proportion. 



With respect to the amount of fats I think 2 "5 per cent, rather 

 low ; I am disposed to believe that it should be raised to 2"75. 

 In the morning's milk the maximal amount of fat was 5 40 

 per cent, (cow. No. 39), and the minimal proportion was 2'88 

 (cow. No. 6). In the evening's milk the maximal amount was 

 6'30 per cent, (cow, No. 36), and the minimal 2-69 per cent, (cow. 

 No. 9). The average percentage of fat in the mixed milk of the 

 cows was 4-20 in the morning's and 4'62 in the evening's. Thus 

 it will be seen that whilst in twenty-five instances the solids 



