TESTING DAIRY PRODUCTS BY THE BABCOCK TEST. 51 



answer the purpose at very little expense. One space is allowed 

 for each day's milk, the weight of the morning's milk being 

 put in the upper part of the space and the weight of the night's 

 milk in the lower part. 



The Vermont Experiment Station has made a special study 

 of the question at what times in the period of lactation a cow 

 should be tested to give a fairly accurate idea of the whole 

 year's yield, by making one or two tests. The results obtained 

 indicate that the first test for spring cows should be made about 

 6 weeks after calving, summer cows, 8 weeks after calving, and 

 fall cows 8 to 10 weeks after calving. The second test should 

 be made about 6 to 7 months after calving. Composite sam- 

 ples of 4 days' milk should be used for these tests. To find the 

 quantity given, weigh the milk for 4 days in the middle of each 

 month during the period of lactation. These weights will give 

 a very close average for the months in which they are taken. 

 The average of all the weights obtained multiplied by the num- 

 ber of months the cow is giving milk will give the total yield. 

 This product multiplied by the average per cent of fat found 

 will give the total yield of butter fat. 



APPLICATION OF THE TEST TO SEPARATOR BUTTER FACTORIES. 



Although it is quite generally admitted that the quality as well 

 as quantity of milk delivered, should be considered in making 

 dividends in factories where milk is pooled, many who recognize 

 the justice of the relative value plan hesitate to adopt it, on 

 account of the labor and expense involved in making daily tests 

 from each patron's milk. The best plan yet proposed for reduc- 

 ing the expense of the necessary tests is that of the composite 

 sample first described by Professor Patrick.* 



* Bulletin 9, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, 1S90. 



