AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 107 



Many facts are being brought out in connection with this test 

 which should be of interest to dairy men generally, viz, : 



(4.) The composition of the whole milk. 



(5.) The composition of the skimmed milk and butter milk. 



(6.) 'J'he waste of fat in the skimmed milk and butter milk. 



(7.) The effect of food' and other conditions upon the avail- 

 ability (churnability) of the fat in the milk. 



(8.) The relation of the fat in the milk and cream to the but- 

 ter actually obtained. 



These tests began in June 1888, and are still in progress. The 

 results of only one year, June 1888 to 1889, are here reported 

 for five animals. One of the Holsteins has not yet completed her 

 first year's production and so no figures are given for her. This 

 is really then, a report of progress. 



It is to be distinctly understood that no single test of several 

 breeds of dairy cows, especially of two animals of each breed, 

 can determine the relative profits from their use ; but notwith- 

 standing this, such work has great value. Whatever of testing 

 has been done in the past has mostly been done by the special ad- 

 vocates of each breed with a view to "booming" their business, 

 and while our breeders of thoroughbred stock are as a rule men of 

 high standing and undoubted integrity of character, it is quite 

 probable, as they would doubtless confess, that they have more 

 fully reported the production of phenomenal animals than of those 

 of average capacity, and that tests of production have generally 

 been made under a high pressure system of feeding and care 

 which is very far removed from what is feasible in general prac- 

 tice. It is certainly well that a study of our dairy breeds by dis- 

 interested parties is being inaugurated at several stations, under 

 uniform conditions, that are attainable in farm practice, and with 

 animals as nearly representative as possible. 



It is hardly probable that the consensus of the reports that 

 will ultimately be made will do injustice to any breed, and we 

 shall in this way come into possession of a mass of facts free 

 from the bias of ])usiuess interests, that will go far towards show- 

 ing cleaily what are the prominent characteristics, proper uses 

 and present limitations of the breeds that are claiming attention 

 as dairy animals. 



